On October 10, 2023, Meghan Markle delivered a speech at The Archewell Foundation Parents' Summit: Mental Wellness in the Digital Age, which took place during Project Healthy Minds' World Mental Health Day Festival in New York City.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry express concerns about the influence of social media on their two children.
"In my whole life, being a mother is the utmost priority," Meghan, aged 42, shared during a panel discussion at the Project Healthy Minds' World Mental Health Day Festival on Tuesday, October 10. "Of course, being a wife to this individual comes second."
Meghan expressed her gratitude that her children are still quite young and not immediately affected by the negative impacts of social media. At The Archewell Foundation Parents' Summit "Mental Wellness in the Digital Age" presentation on Tuesday, she lovingly glanced at her husband and shared how their foundation is dedicated to raising awareness about the harmful effects of social media on children. Meghan admitted her concerns about the future consequences it may bring.
The actress, who has two children with Harry, stated that she has been encouraged by the progress made by the Archewell Foundation in addressing the negative impact of social media on families. Meghan emphasized that everyone is affected by the online world and social media, with some experiencing more harm than others. Ultimately, she highlighted the importance of ensuring people's safety by avoiding content that could be detrimental to them.
Harry and his spouse were in agreement as they addressed the attendees, emphasizing the significance of transforming pain into purpose in light of raising children in the digital era.
Elaborating further, the prince underscored the importance of parents sharing their cautionary stories or experiences of loss caused by social media as a means to bring about positive change and ultimately safeguard the lives of children.
“Yes, we acknowledge the addictive nature of these platforms. We all recognize and concur. As a professional who operates within these companies – particularly as a designer – kindly refrain from sharing content with children that you would not want your own children to come across,” Harry implored. “I believe this is a straightforward appeal. It can be easily rectified.”
Meghan Markle expressed her concern about the permanence of social media in our lives, emphasizing that it should worry all parents. She noted that initially, the intention behind social media was to promote positivity. However, she acknowledged that the situation has changed, and it is now crucial to ensure that families have a platform to share their stories, as those stories are what truly matter.
Earlier in the day, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who were in New York City to commemorate World Mental Health Day, visited Marcy Lab School. This trade school in Brooklyn is affiliated with Harry and Meghan's Archewell Foundation.
The couple met with a select group of high school graduates, known as the Fall 2023 Marcy Lab Fellows, and discussed how they are utilizing technology for positive purposes in their post-graduation careers. They also engaged in conversations with alumni of the fellowship to assess their experiences.
Meghan's upcoming trip to NYC with Harry is just the beginning of her ambitious career plans. According to an exclusive source, while Harry and Meghan have been preoccupied with the Invictus Games, Meghan has been actively working on her Hollywood comeback. With a new team by her side, they have been meticulously strategizing which platforms will have the greatest influence.
While there are no definitive plans as of now, it was mentioned by an insider that Meghan desires her next endeavor to have a strong foundation in charitable work and philanthropy. This direction may potentially result in the creation of additional docuseries that shed light on various fundraising requirements in different regions.