Meghan Markle has spoken frankly about the problem of bullying on social media, and has affirmed that she is one of the most affected victims.
As a public figure, it is no surprise that Meghan Markle often faces criticism and insults on social media. However, in a recent event, the Duchess surprised many people when she shared that she is “one of the most bullied people in the world”.
The event took place on October 2, when Meghan visited Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara (USA). This is a leading non-profit organization that supports the development of leadership skills for girls, helping them to reach their full potential. Meghan’s visit is part of a program to raise awareness about online safety called Social Media U. This program receives financial support from the Archewell Foundation, founded by Meghan and Prince Harry.
– Meghan has been very open about her personal experiences with online bullying. During her talk with the girls, the duchess did not hesitate to affirm that she is “one of the most bullied people in the world”. She and the girls participated in an activity where people discussed hypothetical situations related to online bullying.
Mrs. May shared with Vanity Fair magazine: “We did an activity where people discussed a series of hypothetical situations. Meghan talked about being one of the most bullied people in the world. The girls held up little emoji boards and talked about how they would feel if they were in those situations.”
Meghan’s visit to Girls Inc. comes just months after she and Prince Harry launched The Parents Network, an organization that supports parents whose children have been affected or lost to online violence. The foundation has also partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other organizations to end violence against children, an issue Harry and Meghan raised during their recent trip to Colombia.
The couple spoke out about their campaign for the first time on CBS Mornings last month. They revealed that they wanted to raise awareness about the dangers of online violence because they are parents to two young children, Archie and Lilibet.
Meghan shared: “Our kids are young, they’re three and five. They’re amazing. But all you want to do as a parent is protect them. So when we saw what was happening online, we knew there was a lot of work to be done. We were excited to be part of that positive change.”
Earlier, during a panel at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in March, on International Women’s Day, Meghan highlighted the negative impact of social media, especially cyberbullying, and how it affected her.
The Suits actress shared: “Even if it was profitable, it’s pointless. Social media is a very toxic environment. I try to keep my distance from it.”
Meghan added that when she was pregnant with her children, she was shocked by the “viciousness and cruelty” of some social media users. The duchess said: “But we have also created these habits. What I find most disturbing is that more and more women are being mean to other women. I don’t understand it.”
Meghan asked: “When you read something bad about a woman, why would you share it with your friends? That’s something that’s been lost in the present. We’ve forgotten our humanity.”