As a public figure, it is no surprise that Meghan Markle often faces criticism and abuse on social media. However, at 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 leadership development 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 Archwell Foundation, founded by Meghan and Prince Harry.
According to Larissa May, co-founder of #HalfTheStory – which partnered with Girl Inc. for the event – 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 everyone discussed hypothetical situations related to online bullying.
“We did an activity together 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,” May told Vanity Fair.
Meghan’s visit to Girls Inc. comes 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 first spoke about their campaign on CBS Mornings last month, revealing that they wanted to raise awareness about the dangers of cyberbullying because they are parents to two young children, Archie and Lilibet.
Meghan shared: “Our kids are young, they’re 3 and 5. 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 there. We’re excited to be a part of this positive change.”
Previously, during a panel at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in March, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Meghan highlighted the negative impact of social media, especially cyberbullying, and how it affected her.
“Even if it’s profitable, it’s meaningless. Social media is a toxic environment. I try to keep my distance from it,” the Suits actress shared.
Meghan added that when she was pregnant with her children, she was shocked by the “viciousness and cruelty” of some social media users. “But we have also created these habits,” the duchess said. “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.”
