Meghan Markle candidly shared her experiences with online bullying with teenagers during a recent visit. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, visited the Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara on October 2, an organization dedicated to empowering girls to achieve their full potential through leadership training. Meghan’s appearance supported the digital wellness program, Social Media U, which has received backing from her and Prince Harry’s Archewell Foundation.
Larissa May, the co-founder of #HalfTheStory, an advocacy group collaborating with Girls Inc., revealed that Meghan discussed being “one of the most bullied people in the world” during an interview with Vanity Fair. The activity included scenarios where girls expressed how they would feel emotionally in various situations. The goal was to create a space of vulnerability where teens could provide input on their experiences growing up in a digital age.
Meghan’s visit to Girls Inc. follows the launch of The Parents Network by her and Harry, aiming to support parents dealing with online harms affecting children. The couple also partnered with the World Health Organization to combat violence against children, a cause highlighted during their recent trip to Colombia. Speaking on CBS Mornings, Meghan emphasized the importance of protecting children from online bullying, given the impact such negativity can have on young minds.
At a keynote panel at the South by Southwest festival in March, Meghan addressed the toxic nature of social media and how she personally experienced online bullying during her pregnancy. She expressed concern over the cruelty among women towards other women online and urged for a return to humanity in online interactions.
Meghan’s advocacy against online bullying resonates deeply as she leverages her platform to bring awareness to the harmful effects of cyberbullying. By sharing her own struggles with online abuse, Meghan aims to ignite conversations and drive positive change in the digital space, especially for the protection of children.