Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, renowned for her grace under pressure, has revealed her deliberate effort to distance herself from social media platforms in recent years. The 42-year-old duchess, who shares son Prince Archie, four, and daughter Princess Lilibet, two, with Prince Harry, opened up about her struggles with online criticism, particularly during her pregnancies, at the SXSW Conference in Austin, Texas.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Reflecting on her decision to step back from social media, Meghan highlighted the toxic environment prevalent online, especially during vulnerable periods like pregnancy and childbirth. “Yes, social media is an environment that I think has a lot of that,” she shared. “You know, I think… it’s really interesting as I can reflect on it, I keep my distance from it right now just for my own well-being.”
Meghan detailed the emotional toll of facing bullying and abuse online while expecting her children. “The bulk of the bullying and abuse that I was experiencing on social media and online was when I was pregnant with Archie and Lili, and with a newborn with each of them,” she explained. “You just think about that, and to really wrap your head around why people would be so hateful.”
She emphasized the cruelty of online behavior, particularly during such tender and sacred moments in a mother’s life. “It’s not catty, it’s cruel,” Meghan lamented. “And why you would do that, certainly, when you’re pregnant, with a newborn, we all know as moms, it’s such a tender and sacred time.”
Meghan has also prioritized shielding her children from the toxicity of online spaces. The former Suits actress, who tied the knot with Prince Harry in 2018, acknowledged the instinctual drive to protect her offspring. “I think you know, you could either succumb to it, nearly succumb to how painful that it is, and maybe in some regards, because I was pregnant, that mammalian instinct just kicked in,” she shared. “You do everything you can to protect your child, and as a result, protect yourself, too.”
The duchess’s remarks shed light on the challenges faced by public figures navigating the treacherous waters of social media scrutiny. Despite the pressures, Meghan’s resolve to prioritize her well-being and shield her family underscores her commitment to authenticity and resilience in the face of adversity.