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12th March 2024
12:43pm GMT
Meghan Markle has opened up on motherhood, social media, and her shared journey of parenthood with her husband, Prince Harry.
The couple, who married in 2018, share two children: a son, Archie, 4, and daughter, Lilibet, 2.
During the SXSW Conference for International Women’s Day, Meghan reflected on the dangers of social media and how it can negatively impact new mums.
The mum-of-two joined a panel discussion called '‘Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen,’ sharing her experience of motherhood and the challenges she has faced due to online bullying.
"The bulk of the bullying and the abuse that I was experiencing in social media and online was when I was pregnant, with Archie and with Lili, and with a newborn with each of them,” Meghan confessed.
"The effect that social media can have on new mothers, even just the lack of sleep because they spend all this time scrolling, but it can also be really dizzying for them to see this portrayal of motherhood that looks so perfect when we all know it's not perfect.
"We all know that it's messy," Meghan said.
Despite the struggles she has endured because of online abuse, she expressed gratitude towards her husband's unwavering support in challenging times.
“My husband is such a hands-on dad and such a supporter of me and my family. That I don’t take for granted. That is a real blessing,” she shared.
Meghan, however, expressed concern for mums who may not have the 'same level of support' that she has from the Duke of Sussex.
For this reason, the Suits actress has called for protective measures to be put in place online.
"It's about putting safeguards in so women and moms especially cannot feel like they're even more vulnerable when they go online.”
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