Mental health matters and Meghan Markle is leading by example. The Duchess of Sussex recently shared her experiences with a group of teenage girls, discussing the reasons behind her decision to take a break from social media.
On October 2, a group of young girls at Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara got an unforgettable visitor—Meghan Markle. The Duchess of Sussex surprised the girls by joining them for a screen-free afternoon of participating in different activities.
They played games, made friendship bracelets, did coloring, and had candid conversations about the impact of social media. Meghan was there to support the launch of a new digital wellness initiative called Social Media U. It is a program designed to help young people navigate the complexities of online life.
The program is a collaboration between Girls Inc., a national mentorship and leadership organization, and #HalfTheStory, a nonprofit focused on promoting healthier relationships with technology.
This partnership is set to expand nationwide, bringing critical conversations about responsible tech use to students across the country. During her visit, Meghan didn’t shy away from tough topics.
As Larissa May, founder of #HalfTheStory, explained to Vanity Fair, the Duchess of Sussex opened up about her own experiences with online bullying in a session with the girls. “We did an activity where we talked through a bunch of scenarios,” Larissa shared, and “Meghan talked about being one of the most bullied people in the world.”
The session also had the girls actively engage with the topic. “We had girls wave these little emoji signs and talk about how each one of these scenarios would have impacted them emotionally,” Larissa added.
Meghan’s candid revelations have since sparked a wave of reactions from fans. Messages of empathy poured in, with one person writing,“Sending hugs to Meghan. Yes, she’s put up with too much abuse. I do not have time to dislike anyone.”
The conversation didn’t stop there. Defenders of Meghan also voiced their frustrations. One commenter stated, “This is exactly why she has to make this speech, because of these nasty comments. No matter what she does, y’all are quick to judge her. Y’all don’t know her, just let her live[sic].”
Some responses were more measured. One individual admitted, “I’m not a big fan of hers personally,” but added that “the internet has not been her friend.” The person acknowledged that while Meghan “probably made mistakes in her life,” most people have the advantage of privacy, unlike her.
The social media user further noted that Meghan’s personal experiences with bullying, could “help a lot of these young girls in learning how to deal with it.” Given the rise in youth suicides due to online bullying, the person concluded, “If she can help change their story, then good on her.”
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