Prince Harry revealed that he will return to social media with his wife, Meghan Markle, once they feel that it's the right time and if they see "meaningful commitments" to make reforms on the platform.
In an interview with Fast Company, Harry denied reports that they are quitting social media for good. He said that this was "news" to him and the Duchess of Sussex. The royal also cited that the misinformation online has had a huge impact on how people engage.
The Duke of Sussex blamed the part social media played for the recent U.S. Capitol riots since this was organized online. Harry said that its effect must never be downplayed as this particular incidence was a "literal attack on democracy in the United States."
The Queen's grandson also said that social media was a crucial tool in the Myanmar genocide and the violence incited against the Rohingya refugees. Harry said that online platforms have promoted "a crisis of hate, a crisis of health, and a crisis of truth."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are pouring their energy into learning how to help make social media a safer place. Harry believes that despite the bad side of this online platform, it's still an important tool for building and connecting a community.
The Sussex pair has funded studies on the effects of Facebook, Twitter and other platforms on its users as part of their projects for their new foundation, Archewell. One of their goals is to make social media companies step up and take responsibility for curbing online hate and attacks if they are profiting from the users.
In early January, The Sunday Times cited sources who claimed Harry and Meghan will not be back on social media after giving up their @SussexRoyal Instagram account as part of their Megxit arrangement with Queen Elizabeth. The news outlet reported the Sussex pair had been "disillusioned" by the amount of hate they received online.
Meghan spoke of this experience during a podcast interview, where she admitted to the "almost unsurvivable" emotional and mental toll of the online abuse. The duchess was apparently told she was the most trolled person on Earth in 2019.
Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan might not have a social media account but they are still featured in various profiles, especially for the charities that they support to raise awareness for their advocacies. Photos of the Sussex pair's work and public service are uploaded and shared by the organizations themselves.
