Meghan on ‘toxicity’ of social media: We have forgotten about our humanity

The Duchess of Sussex said we have lost our sense of humanity on social media, as she recalled the “cruel” comments aimed at her while she was pregnant with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Meghan led a keynote speech on International Women’s Day titled Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On And Off The Screen, alongside speakers including US actress Brooke Shields.

During the annual SXSW Conference, Meghan, 42, said that even though social media sites are “making dollars, it doesn’t make sense”, emphasising the “negative effect” on mental health and physical safety.

When asked how she tackled the “seemingly endless toxicity” aimed at her online, she said: “It is really interesting as I can reflect on it, I keep my distance from it right now for my own wellbeing, but the bulk of the bullying and abuse that I was experiencing on social media and online was when I was pregnant with Archie and with Lili.

“You just think about that and really wrap your head around why people would be so hateful – it is not catty, it is cruel.”

The former Suits actress said she found it “disturbing” that women were “spewing” hatred at each other online, adding: “I cannot make sense of that.”

“If you’re reading something terrible about a woman, why are you sharing it with your friends?” she said.

“Why are you choosing to put it out in the world, what if it was your friend, or your mum or your daughter, you wouldn’t do it.

“I think that is the piece that is so lost right now (with) what is happening in the digital space and in certain sections of the media – we have forgotten about our humanity and that has got to change.”