The royal family uses social media to update royal followers with their activities, announcements, future endeavors, and more. But however useful this medium is, there is also a bad side into it. As fans are free to air their sentiments and leave their comments on their posts, it is not far that they will leave negative remarks and criticisms to these royals - their often victims, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle. So, here's how these two duchesses manage to fight online negativity and see the positive side of social media.
According to Hello! Magazine, Kensington Palace used a lot of resources to delete abusive comments directed to the Duchess of Cambridge, Duchess of Sussex, and other followers. Buckingham Palace then released guidelines about how to leave a comment on their accounts as it promotes #hellotokindness campaign to encourage netizens to think before they post things and to see the positive side of social media.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle didn't let the swirl of negativity stop them and use Instagram as their platform to connect to their fans. Here, they post inspirational quotes, warm wishes, their plans, missions, and more. The former actress perfectly knows how to get the millennials' attention as she is also a blogger herself before she joined the royal family. Now, they all use social media to give a glimpse of the royal family's life to the public without being affected by the derogatory remarks.
However, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Insider the negative comments online is a "necessary evil" if they aimed to continue using social media over Buckingham Palace press releases. "Many posts are appalling," he said about the abuse the royals, like Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, receive.
Fitzwilliams revealed that the royal staff tried to curb the negative comments on royal websites, but it was quite impossible to effectively police social media. "The trouble is that it is a necessary evil," he insisted.
Both of the Cambridges and Sussexes have millions of followers on their respective social media pages. It is the most popular and easiest way for them to communicate with their fans. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle even know this and continue to use so despite the online backlash they often receive.
Although Fitzwilliams acknowledged that social media, indeed, needs a thorough cleanup, it remains to be a big question of how to do it and how to enforce it. The public's adverse reactions to Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle may not be personal; it is the fact that they are in a relationship with the princes -- Prince William and Prince Harry. As Eric Schiffer, social media consultant and chairman of Reputation Management Consultants, put it, it is not the monarchy that is changing, it is the people's ability to express their thoughts publicly in extreme ways.
