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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit social media

11 January 2021, MVT 19:01
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Megan Markel moved to California last year after abruptly resigning from British royal duties. Both previously had prominent presences online but did raise concerns about hateful treatment by the public and especially British media. PHOTO: UK PRESS
11 January 2021, MVT 19:01

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have quit social media after growing disillusioned by the hatred they have found on sites like Facebook and Twitter, a UK newspaper reported on Sunday.

The couple were rejecting social media in both a personal and professional capacity as part of their new "progressive role" in the United States, the Sunday Times said.

A source close to the couple told the newspaper they had "no plans" to use social media for their new Archewell Foundation and were "very unlikely" to restart utilising platforms personally.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who moved to California last year after abruptly resigning from British royal duties, have previously had prominent presences online.

They amassed more than 10 million Instagram followers to their Sussex Royal account while they were working royals.

But the couple has also previously raised concerns about their treatment on social media, as well as by the British press.

Meghan described past trolling of her as "almost unsurvivable" while Harry issued an unprecedented statement in 2016 calling to attention "the racial undertones of comment pieces" and "the sexism and racism of social media trolls".

Last year they launched a wide-ranging non-profit organisation, Archewell, after giving up their "Sussex Royal" brand as part of the terms of their departure from frontline monarchy duties.

They have started other creative ventures, including signing a deal with Spotify to produce podcasts that tell "uplifting and entertaining stories".

The couple also signed a multi-year contract, reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars, with streaming giant Netflix to produce "impactful" films and series.

Meanwhile, Markle, who is a former actress, narrated a wildlife documentary on Disney+ last year.

London, United Kingdom | AFP

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