Meghan Markle Reveals Why She Has Not Been on Social Media for a Long Time

Meghan Markle admitted that she'd steered clear of any personal social media accounts "for a very long time." A situation the duchess finds helpful, especially because she doesn't know what's going on "out there."

The Duchess of Sussex shared her perspective at Fortune's Most Powerful Next Gen Summit from the comfort of the new Santa Barbara home she shares with Prince Harry. With the latest social media trends under discussion, Meghan shared her reason for avoiding such platforms personally.

Last year, Meghan got named the most trolled person in the world, so she also touched on the reason for her concern over people obsessed with social media.

MOST TROLLED PERSON IN THE WORLD

Being the subject of excessive levels of trolling over the last four years, Meghan remained steadfast as she kept on her chosen path. But it has its challenges, as she said during the virtual chat:

"It’s not easy. That’s the first place all of us have to start with. Sometimes making the best decision for yourself and your family might not be the most popular one."

WHY NO SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS?

One of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's aims with the Archewell Foundation they founded is to help create healthier online communities. Because like many others, the duchess finds social media platforms a very harsh place to be, and the reason why she decided to stay away.

Prince Harry had to keep his a secret.

“For my own self-preservation, I have not been on social media for a very long time,” Meghan shared. “I made a personal choice to not have any accounts, so I don’t know what’s out there, and in many ways, that’s helpful for me.”

The duchess said that she feels concerned for people who become obsessed with social media because of its very real impact on mental health. She also likened it to other addictions like drugs as people in both instances are called users, something she thinks is creating the obsession "algorithmically."

PRINCE HARRY HAD A SECRET ACCOUNT

However, when Prince Harry and Meghan first met back in 2016, both had social media accounts, even though Prince Harry had to keep his a secret because personal accounts among royals are a big no-no.

Around the time Meghan and Prince Harry met, she started following a nondescript Instagram account by the name of @SpikeyMau5. According to the new book released about the couple called "Finding Freedom," the account reportedly belonged to Prince Harry.

The profile picture consisted of a mouse-shaped helmet, and authors of the book explained that Prince Harry, who is a big fan of house music, crafted the pseudonym by combining two names. The name of his favorite DJ at the time, DeadMau5, and the name Scotland Yard officers like to call the young prince, Spike.

Even though the royal couple currently has no social media accounts, everything they say or do is followed closely. For that reason, recent reports said that Meghan Markle might return to the UK before the end of the year.

Due to travel restrictions amid the pandemic, the royal couple didn't have the option of traveling over the pond since early this year. But Markle's testimony in her case against Associated Newspapers is set for early next year.

If current regulations are still in place come year-end, the duchess will have to comply with two weeks quarantine after landing in the UK before she can appear in court and testify.