Meghan Markle did not hold back on her views about social media while on her Australian tour.
Seemingly scarred by the constant trolls, scrutiny, and dissection of her daily life, the Duchess of Sussex has raised her voice once again on the dangers of online platforms. She emphasizes how people must develop tough skin, drawing inspiration from her personal experience as a public figure.
Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, are currently on a tour in Australia, where they have several personal events scheduled. In recent times, they have raised awareness of mental health issues stemming from the use and abuse of social media platforms.
Meghan Markle Says She Was ‘Bullied And Attacked’ Online For A Decade
Meghan has pulled back the curtains on her experience with social media as a public figure. She dug deep into her feelings about the online industry and how she was able to navigate through the heavy negativity. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited an organization at the Swinburne University of Technology dedicated to helping young people during their trip to Australia.
The organization, Batyr, is an Australian youth mental health charity with a focus on helping young people to reduce stigmas and reach out in times of need. Meghan and her husband addressed the group of youngsters, sharing their battles with social media and mental health.
The former Hollywood star disclosed that she has been “bullied and attacked” every day for 10 years on social media and was “the most trolled person in the entire world.” Despite the negative energy from online users, the mom of two declared triumphantly, “Now I’m here,” telling her listeners in the classroom that she did not let the hate weigh her down.
Megan continued her speech, noting that as the trolls fired on, social media companies were not “incentivized to stop.” She added that due to her personal experiences, she likes to listen to others going through similar phases, as it hits so close to home. PEOPLE reported that the ousted royal admonished her listeners to be strong while informing them of the reality behind online platforms.
“When I think of all of you and what you’re experiencing, I think so much of that is having to realize that you know that industry, that billion-dollar industry, that is completely anchored and predicated on cruelty to get clicks,” Meghan said before adding that the clickbait nature of social media is not going to change.
Her husband, Harry, chimed in, detailing his personal mental health struggle. He stated that social media has led to much loneliness for a lot of people. The Duke also praised the Australian government for placing a ban on social media users, which restricts the use of online platforms to 16-year-olds and older. However, he noted that it should never have gotten so bad that countries of the world need to institute bans.
Meghan and Harry have previously made their stance evidently clear against children using social media. They continue to advocate for stronger protections for children from the online community. Harry previously highlighted that he is grateful Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are still too young to use social media, saying life is better off the platforms.
Last year, The Blast reported that the lovebirds unveiled a memorial called the Lost Screen Memorial in New York City, dedicated to the memory of children whose families believe harmful material online contributed to their deaths. The memorial featured 50 smartphone-shaped lightboxes. Each box displayed a photograph of a child whose life was lost “due to the harms of social media”.
The Sussexes also assisted the grieving families by reaching out to tech companies, insisting that parents should be able to gain access to the phones of the children who have passed. Harry argued that tech companies refusing to allow parents to see what their children do on social media during their lifetime, on the grounds of privacy, is wrong.
The ‘Suits’ Actress Is Heavy On Security For Her Kids
Reports have shown that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have been noticeably absent as their parents visit Australia this April because it was their mother’s wish for them to remain in the US. According to insiders, Harry wanted to bring the kids along on the Aussie trip and make it a family affair, but his wife insisted that they remain at home in California.
The source explained that the Duke wanted to create memories with his children similar to the ones he has of going on royal tours with his mom, Princess Diana. Meghan, on the other hand, was reportedly uncomfortable with the suggestion, and The Blast detailed that her fears stemmed from maintaining security and a stable environment for the kids.
Although she hates being away from her children, she believes they need to stay behind in Montecito while she and Harry focus on work. Not only is she concerned for her kids, but in a previous public address, Meghan also emphasized that the security of children is paramount.
Meghan Markle Can’t Escape Public Scrutiny
As the couple embarked on the Aussie tour, eyebrows were raised with many questioning their motives. Some critics claim that Meghan and Harry are trying to step back into their official roles after announcing they had left that world behind.
Controversy also stems from drawn conclusions that the couple’s trip gives the appearance of a royal tour when they have fully denounced their stance as working members of the royal house. Royal expert Rebecca English brought up a statement the late Queen Elizabeth made in 2020.
At the time, the queen stressed that there would be no “half-in, half-out” arrangement for her grandson, hence he had to make a choice and stick to it. The Blast reported that while Meghan and Harry maintain that they aren’t working royals, they continue to act as such, using the name, structure, and style resembling the institution.
English stated that the couple organized their trip as “cos play royals” and are going through traditional royal tour arrangements. She also called Meghan out for smiling while appearing on a cooking show previously, where she was introduced as “royalty and the Duchess of Sussex.”
Will Meghan Markle’s words about social media effect a change?