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The Duchess of Sussex has revealed that last year she was told she was the “most trolled person in the world” in a podcast in which she spoke about the “almost insurmountable” online abuse she has experienced.
Meghan and her husband, the Duke of Sussex, joined three California high school students during an episode of their podcast, Teen Therapy, and discussed topics such as mental health stigma, self-care and online abuse.
The Duchess said the Covid-19 pandemic, which has closed schools around the world, has meant more time online for many.
She told presenters Gael, Kayla and Thomas, “Yeah, it’s a great way to connect, but it also ends up being a place where there’s a lot of disconnection, you know, I can speak personally.
“They told me that in 2019 I was the most trolled person in the world, man or woman. Now eight months of that wasn’t even visible, she was on maternity leave or with a baby.
“But what could be manufactured and produced is almost insurmountable, it is so great that you cannot think about what it feels like, because I don’t care if you are 15 or 25, if people say things about you that are not true, what that makes your mental and emotional health so harmful. “
Harry said that people can hide behind usernames in virtual spaces to project or say things they wouldn’t say in person.
“I think many, many people are suffering, much and freaking out because of the way the world is and sometimes because of the echo chamber that has been created for them by the online platform they have chosen. “, He said.
“But it also comes down to control. You can control what you see, you can control what you do, so whether it’s notifications or vibrate tones, whatever it is, these things control you, instead of taking control. “
The broadcast was recorded earlier this week in the Santa Barbara area where the Sussexes now live, and with everyone socially estranged and wearing masks.
It typically features five seniors from Loara High School in the Orange County city of Anaheim, having candid conversations on a variety of topics, from mental health, school and family to friendships and sexuality.
The couple discussed their coping strategies to anchor their mental health. Harry told the hosts that he meditated and Meghan that she kept a journal.
Harry emphasized the importance of prioritizing self-care and having candid conversations about wellness. “The more we talk about it, the more it becomes normal, and it’s normal, and it’s not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength,” he said.
The Duke and Duchess later criticized algorithms on social media sites promoting suggested content, saying that consuming material online should be treated in the same way as a physical diet.
Harry said: “The hatred of the followers has turned into something, you don’t need to do that. As much as we worry, we are worried and we realize what we put in our stomach as a diet, the same applies to our eyes and our mind, what we consume is affecting us ”.
