Meghan Markle says she was 'most trolled person in the world', recalls 10 years of being 'bullied'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The Duchess of Sussex and actress-turned businesswoman, Meghan Markle, opened up about her years when she was consistently targeted on social media.
Markle was addressing a classroom of young people involved with the mental health organization Batyr on the third day of her Australian visit, when she described herself as "the most trolled person in the entire world" who would get “bullied and attacked” every day for 10 years.
Meghan Markle says she was trolled for 10 years
Meghan said social media companies were "not incentivised to stop".
"And I can speak to that really personally, which is why I like to listen, because it rings true for me in a very real way," she added. "For now, 10 years, every day for 10 years, I have been bullied and attacked. And I was the most trolled person in the entire world."
Further said that cruelty on social media is not going to change because, possibly, that is what brings clicks, as she advised the attendees to stay strong.
She added, "Now, I'm still here. And when I think of all of you and what you're experiencing, I think so much of that is having to realise that you know that industry, that billion-dollar industry, that is completely anchored and predicated on cruelty to get clicks – that's not going to change. So you have to be stronger than that."
Prince Harry hails Australia’s social media rules for children
As the gathering discussed the toxicity and negativity that people get exposed to online, Prince Harry appreciated Australia's ban on under-16s using social media, describing it as “epic” from a "responsibility and leadership standpoint".
He stated, "Australia took the lead. Your government was the first country in the world to bring about a ban. 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."
He continued, "Because so many countries have now followed suit, but it should have never got to a ban."
The couple has been active in raising awareness about the dangers of social media.
"It should have never, ever got to a ban. And now that the ban is in place, now what follows? Because the companies themselves have to be accountable, and there's no way that young people should be punished by being banned from something that should be safe to use, no matter what,” Prince Harry added.
