Topics: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Royal Family, Social Media, Mental Health, Australia, News, UK News, World News
Meghan Markle has opened up on being 'bullied and attacked' every day for 10 years on social media, in an emotional admission.
It's no secret that since becoming royalty and marrying Prince Harry in 2018, the Duchess of Sussex, 44, often finds herself at the centre of cruel hate and scrutiny, no matter what she does.
And now, heartbreakingly, she's described herself as 'the most trolled person in the entire world'.
Meghan made the remarks as she and Harry met with young people associated with the Australian mental health organisation Batyr at Melbourne’s Swinburne University of Technology on Thursday (16 April).
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The royal couple are on a four-day tour in the country as non-working royals after landing on Tuesday (14 April), where they are taking part in charity engagements, community visits, and professional appearances.
At the talk in question, the duo candidly spoke of their struggles with mental health and the importance of therapy, and discussed the under-16s social media ban down under.
For context, in December, Australia implemented a controversial world-first ban preventing children under 16 from using social media.
Talking about the move, the Duke of Sussex told the group that social media had 'led to so much loneliness for so many people'.
He branded the ban as 'epic' from a 'responsibility and leadership standpoint,' but also reasoned that it 'should have never got to a ban'.
Revealing the moment he decided to go to therapy, he admitted: “I waited until I was literally in the fetal position, much older, lying on the kitchen floor. Until I was like, ok maybe this therapy thing - maybe I should try it."
Harry also talked about regional differences in mental health support with the young people, and admitted that he's 'not a city person,' and his 'mental health could not stand living in a city - no way'.
Meanwhile, Meghan argued that social media companies are 'not incentivised to stop'.
She explained: "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. 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."
The duchess 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.”
Harry said, "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."
The Duke added: “Because so many countries have now followed suit, but it should have never got to a ban. 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."
Harry and Meghan have long campaigned to raise awareness about the harms of social media.
During their trip, the Duchess is also hosting a wellness retreat this weekend, where tickets will set you back roughly $3,199 (approximately £2,360).
