The Duchess of Sussex has been candid about her experiences with online bullying through the years.
Meghan Markle spoke with young girls about an important issue ahead of International Day of the Girl.
Larissa May, founder of #HalfTheStory, a nonprofit focused on improving young people’s relationship with technology, told Vanity Fair about the personal conversations that Meghan, 43, had with a group of teens while visiting the nonprofit Girls Inc. in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Oct. 2.
“We did an activity where we talked through a bunch of scenarios, and Meghan talked about being one of the most bullied people in the world,” May recalled.
“We had girls wave these little emoji signs and talk about how each one of these scenarios would have impacted them emotionally,” she added.
On October 11, in honor of International Day of the Girl, a new partnership was announced between #HalfTheStory, Girls Inc., and the Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Foundation. Backed by funding from Melinda French Gates’ Pivotal Ventures and the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation, the collaboration aims to support girls in navigating the complexities of the digital world.
The program, Social Media U, is designed to provide girls, particularly those from underserved communities, with the skills they need to foster healthy and balanced relationships with technology. According to the Archewell Foundation’s statement, the initiative seeks to address the impact of social media on teenage girls, focusing on digital wellness as they develop online habits.
A unique aspect of Social Media U is the involvement of a teen advisory board in the creation of the curriculum, ensuring it resonates with the young people it is intended for. Meghan Markle, alongside Dr. Stephanie J. Hull, CEO of Girls Inc., played a key role in shaping this program to empower teens to share their experiences and perspectives. As May, the founder of #HalfTheStory, told Vanity Fair, the goal was to create a “space of vulnerability” where teens could feel heard and supported.
Together, these organizations hope to equip the next generation with the tools to thrive in an increasingly digital world, while promoting healthier and more mindful online experiences.
Meghan has been honest about the times she has been bullied online.
In August, she told Jane Pauley on CBS Sunday Morning, “When you’ve been through any level of pain or trauma, I believe part of our healing journey—certainly part of mine—is being able to be really open about it.”
“I only touched on my experience, but I would never want someone else to feel that way, make those kinds of plans, or not be believed,” she said.