Even for someone constantly in the public eye, the weight of relentless online scrutiny can be overwhelming. Meghan Markle is now opening up about just how intense that experience has been. Speaking during her recent Australia visit alongside her husband, Prince Harry, the Duchess reflected on a decade of online bullying.
With this, she ended up bringing a deeply personal perspective to a global conversation around social media, safety, and accountability. Even Prince Harry added some very valid points on the matter.
Meghan Markle reflects on being the target of online bullying
In December, Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media for children under 16. This means they have blocked them from platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, and others, in legislation. That’s now being copied around the world. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, discussed this with young people in an Australian mental health organisation, Batyr, in Melbourne.
Harry exclaimed, “Now we can sit here and debate the pros and cons of a ban. I’m not here to judge that. All I will say is from a responsibility and leadership standpoint, epic because so many countries have now followed suit, but they should never have gotten to that. It should never, ever go to a ban.” But that’s not all, he further added, “And now, this ban is in place, now what follows? Because the companies themselves have to be accountable.”
The Prince explained, “There’s no way that young people should be punished or banned from something that should have been safe to use, no matter what.” He added So, you know, stories, lived experiences, and no matter how isolated you are, there is going to be someone very close to you that has a similar experience.“ Further, Markle also opened up about how she has been the target of relentless online bullying.
Talking about this, she agreed with her husband. Further, she explained, “I can speak to that very personally. She added, “which is why I like to listen because this is, it rings very true for me in a very real way. For 10 years, every day for 10 years, I have been bullied and attacked. And I was the most trolled person in the entire world.” The conversation highlights a growing concern around digital safety. Markle and Harry’s remarks serve as a reminder that safer, more accountable online spaces are needed.
