Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has opened up about the severe online harassment she has faced for the past ten years, describing herself as the most trolled person globally. Her remarks came during a visit with Prince Harry to Batyr, an Australian youth mental health charity, where they engaged with teenagers about the harmful impacts of social media.
A Decade of Unrelenting Online Attacks
In a YouTube video shared by the Royal Family Channel, Markle revealed the extent of the vitriol directed at her since before her relationship with Prince Harry was publicly confirmed in 2016. "For now, 10 years — every day for 10 years — I have been bullied and attacked," she stated. "And I was the most trolled person in the entire world, man or woman ... but, I’m still here." Her candid admission highlighted the personal toll of persistent online abuse.
Criticism of the Social Media Industry
Markle did not hold back in her critique of the social media industry, which she implied includes major tech companies like Meta and YouTube. "That billion-dollar industry, that is completely anchored and predicated on cruelty to get clicks — that’s not going to change," she asserted. She encouraged the young attendees to be resilient, emphasizing that they must be stronger than the toxic environment fostered by these platforms.
Prince Harry on Australia's Social Media Ban
During the same event, Prince Harry addressed Australia's recent ban on social media for children under the age of 16, which was enacted last year. "Australia took the lead," he told the group. "Your government was the first country in the world to bring about a ban." He acknowledged the initiative as a positive step but also offered a critical perspective.
Accountability and Future Steps
Prince Harry expressed that such bans should not have been necessary in the first place. "It should have never got to a ban. It should have never, ever got to a ban," he remarked. He stressed the importance of holding social media companies accountable, arguing that young people should not be punished by being banned from platforms that ought to be safe. "Now that the ban is in place, now what follows? Because the companies themselves have to be accountable," he added, calling for ongoing efforts to ensure online safety.
Broader Implications and U.S. Legislation
The discussion at Batyr touched on wider global issues, including proposed legislation in the United States, such as The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). While KOSA gained bipartisan support in 2024, it has faced significant opposition due to concerns about potential misuse. Critics, including the digital rights group Fight for the Future, warn that the law could be exploited to censor content related to LGBTQ rights, gender-affirming healthcare, sex education, birth control, and abortion.
Concerns Over Age Verification and Surveillance
Additionally, there are fears that age verification measures on social media platforms could increase online surveillance. Ari Cohn, lead counsel for tech policy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, highlighted this risk in a March interview with The Guardian. "All lawmakers will claim that they are [enacting age verification] to protect youth from some harm, but they fail to mention the convenient power it hands to government to control and chill speech they oppose, and even punish their critics," Cohn explained.
The visit by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to Batyr underscored the urgent need for addressing mental health challenges exacerbated by social media, while also sparking important conversations about regulatory measures and corporate accountability in the digital age.
