Despite amassing over 120,000 followers on her dormant Instagram account @meghan, it appears that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is unlikely to make a social media comeback in the near future. This comes in the wake of her recent candid remarks about the "bullying and abuse" she endured while pregnant with her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, during her time as a working member of the Royal Family.
Experts who spoke to The Mirror suggest that the Duchess's plans to reinvent herself as an influencer are currently on hold. "Will Meghan make a comeback to Instagram? Based on her recent comments, I don't think a comeback is imminent," PR expert Rhea Freeman told the publication. "The detrimental impact that social media can have on people from a mental health point of view, whether celebrity or not, can be huge, but looking at how other high-profile people manage their accounts, some of the tasks are delegated."
Freeman recommended that Meghan should avoid using the page herself to prevent a repeat of the vile abuse she previously experienced. "This would be a very good idea, she doesn't need to see the negative comments. They're not helpful or productive and she won't change people's minds when they're set on hating her," she added.
Michelby L. Whitehead, CEO of a PR firm, echoed Freeman's sentiments, telling The Mirror that Meghan's decision to step away from Instagram was a wise move from a public relations perspective. "In her role as Duchess of Sussex, it is imperative to maintain her integrity and a positive public image. Responding to any negative comments would mar her public perception," Whitehead explained.
The publicity professional also commended Meghan for prioritizing her mental health and the safety of her unborn children during her pregnancies. "This was also a sound decision for the sake of her mental health and the safety of the babies she carried. As an expecting mother, the Duchess chose to protect her peace and her own family, which is to be commended in an age where celebrities such as Kim Kardashian are obsessed with social media visibility, allowing co-parenting disputes and mayhem to play out in public, rather than choosing to take a social media break until situations are under control," Whitehead noted.
However, both Whitehead and Stacy Jones, founder of marketing agency Hollywood Branded, believe that Meghan may eventually return to Instagram with a purpose-driven approach. "Markle is a resilient and sharp woman. Most likely, she will return to Instagram to leverage her bad experience on social media by launching an online mental health campaign, since she is already an advocate for the cause," Whitehead predicted.
Jones concurred, stating, "Given her shared feelings about the bullying nature of the social platform, any return to social media would likely be purpose-driven, focusing on positive impact, business or philanthropy rather than personal exposure. I don't think we'll see a 'this is my life' social media page - but rather a social feed that supports all of that which she is involved in. It's harder to be a hater when subject matter that is potentially triggering is removed."
Meghan's recent remarks about cyberbullying came during her appearance as a keynote panelist at the SXSW panel discussion titled "Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen." During the conversation, the Duchess opened up about the relentless "toxic" trolling she experienced while pregnant with her children, shedding light on the harmful impact of online abuse on mental health.
