Meghan Markle has lent her support to Social Media Kindness Day, revealing she’s ‘saddened that the initiative is necessary in today’s society’.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, who lives in the US with her husband Prince Harry, 36, and their son Archie, one, said the platforms ‘ought to be a safer and kinder place for all’ in a statement backing the campaign.
Social Media Kindness Day is being held on Monday in memory of British TV host Caroline Flack, who was horrendously trolled before killing herself on February 15, to mark her 41st birthday.
A statement of support from Meghan was shared on the initiative’s Twitter account earlier today.
Meghan Markle (pictured) has lent her support to Social Media Kindness Day, revealing she’s ‘saddened that the initiative is necessary in today’s society’
It read: ‘For so many, social media plays a big part of their daily lives. we have access to it at the end of our fingertips, so it ought to be a safer and kinder place for all.
‘It saddens me that in today’s society Social Media Kindness Day is deemed necessary. But it absolutely is!’
The duchess added: ‘I sincerely hope this much needed awareness day is a success. I fully support the initiative.’
In October, Meghan said she ‘was the most trolled person in the entire world in 2019’ as she and Prince Harry made their podcast debut for World Mental Health Day.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex discussed the stigma surrounding the topic and ‘how we can all contribute to a healthier world: physically, mentally, emotionally and holistically’ with high school students from their Santa Barbara villa.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, who lives in the US with her husband Prince Harry, 36, and their son Archie, one, said the platforms ‘ought to be a safer and kinder place for all’ in a statement (pictured) backing the campaign
The podcast, entitled Teenager Therapy and starring Harry, 36, and Meghan, saw the couple talk to hosts Gael, Kayla and Thomas about their own experience of mental health.
Meghan said that the impact of the pandemic had pushed people increasingly toward the internet which she claimed opened up a ‘vulnerability’ and a place for ‘disconnection’.
She said: ‘I can speak personally because I’m told that in 2019 I was the most trolled person in the entire world – male or female.
‘Now eight months of that I wasn’t even visible. I was on maternity leave or with a baby. But what was able to just be manufactured and churned out. It’s almost unsurvivable.’
She added: ‘That’s so big you can’t even think about what that feels like because I don’t care if you’re 15 or 25 if people are saying things about you that aren’t true, what that does to your mental and emotional health is so damaging.
In October, Meghan said that she ‘was the most trolled person in the entire world in 2019’ and it was ‘almost un-survivable’ as she and Prince Harry made their podcast debut (pictured) for World Mental Health Day
‘And so I think from my standpoint, and part of the work that we do from our own personal experience, being able to talk to people and understand that even though our experience is unique to us – and obviously can seem very different to what people experience on the day-to-day – its still a human experience and that’s universal.
‘We all know what it feels like to have our feelings hurt, we all know what it feels like to be isolated or ‘othered’… we are all figuring it out.’
Meghan later added that she is now ‘doing really well’, and said: ‘The past few months have been layered for everyone, we certainly can’t complain, we are fortunate we all have our health, we have roofs over our heads.’
Social Media Kindness Day is in memory of Caroline Flack who died from suicide on 15 February this year at the age of 40.
Social Media Kindness Day is in memory of Caroline Flack (pictured in 2018) who died from suicide on 15 February this year at the age of 40
The campaign is asking people to pledge to play their part in making social media a kinder place.
Caroline’s death came one day after hearing the Crown Prosecution Service would go ahead with a trial for allegedly attacking her model and former tennis player boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27, in December.
Her death was ruled a suicide in an inquest in August this year, with coroner Mary Hassell, saying: ‘The key decision for me to make is whether Caroline took her own life. I have to be satisfied she acted in a way so as to cause her death, and secondly that she intended to cause her death.
‘In Caroline’s case I am entirely satisfied she intended to cause her own death…. There’s no doubt in my mind at all.’
The coroner said Flack had experienced ‘fluctuating ill health’ and was ‘distressed’ at the thought of facing a trial.
If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org