Meghan Markle opened up about the “cruel” online bullying she faced while pregnant with her two children during a panel at South by Southwest festival. She admitted to distancing herself from social media for her well-being, revealing that the majority of the abuse occurred during her pregnancies and after giving birth to Archie and Lilibet.
Reflecting on the hateful comments, Markle expressed concern about the safety of individuals, especially children, in the current social media environment. She highlighted the contradictory nature of platforms like YouTube, which can showcase brilliance while also harboring hate speech and conspiracy theories that harm mental health and physical safety.
Markle called attention to the prevalence of women perpetuating hate towards other women online, urging high-level executives to take action against such behavior. She emphasized the need for both systemic and cultural changes to create safer digital spaces, criticizing the dehumanization that occurs in online interactions.
Despite the financial incentives driving online negativity, Markle stressed the importance of prioritizing humanity and decency in digital discourse. She and Prince Harry have been vocal about the invasive media scrutiny they faced in the U.S. and the U.K., leading them to relocate to California and distance themselves from the British royal family.
In a world where profit often outweighs compassion, Markle’s plea for a return to empathy serves as a powerful reminder of the impact of online behavior on mental well-being and societal values.
