Meghan Markle recently shared that she feels she is “one of the most bullied people in the world,” according to Larissa May, the founder of #HalfTheStory, a mental health advocacy group for teens.
In an interview with Vanity Fair published on Friday, May recounted that the Duchess of Sussex made this statement while participating in a screen-free day with young girls and teens at an event hosted by Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara in collaboration with #HalfTheStory on October 2.
“We did an activity where we talked through a bunch of scenarios, and Meghan mentioned 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.”
#HalfTheStory and Girls Inc., led by CEO Dr. Stephanie J. Hull, have partnered together with funding from the Duchess of Sussex’s Archwell Foundation, Melinda French Gates’ Pivotal Ventures, and the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation.
This collaboration was announced on Friday, October 11, coinciding with International Day of the Girl.
The three organizations have launched a program called Social Media U, which is an educational initiative designed to “equip girls with the essential tools to thrive in the digital age while fostering healthier, more balanced relationships with technology,” as stated by The Archewell Foundation.
Social Media U aims to enhance digital wellness for girls in underserved communities and mitigate the negative impacts of social media on teenagers as their online habits evolve.
The Social Media U curriculum was developed with input from a teen advisory board to ensure it resonates with its young audience.
Middle school students had the chance to test the program, with Meghan’s involvement, as May shared with Vanity Fair.
“We really wanted to make sure that the teens at #HalfTheStory were able to give their input on the type of experience that we would create,” she explained. “Ultimately, we thought the best way to do that was to create a space of vulnerability.”
“With Stephanie and Meghan, we talked about what it really means to grow up in this digital age,” May added.
Meghan has openly discussed her own experiences with online bullying.
“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,” she stated in August during an interview with Jane Pauley on CBS Sunday Morning.
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
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