Safer to read nothing says Meghan on avoiding ‘noise’ of social media
THE DUCHESS of Sussex sets her own news agenda by reading as little as possible, especially on social media, she revealed to an International Women’s Day audience of broadcasters, entertainers and politicians.
She also dismissed suggestions that she had helped to make feminism “trendy”, saying it “doesn’t make any sense”.
The topic was, she said, “going to be part of the conversation forever”.
Meghan appeared alongside the singer Annie Lennox, former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and others, to debate a range of issues affecting women.
Asked if she looked at Twitter, she replied: “No, sorry no. For me that’s my personal preference.”
Admitting that she did not want to get “muddled” by the “noise”, she said: “I don’t read anything – it’s much safer that way, but equally that’s just my own personal preference, because I think positive or negative, it can all sort of just feel like noise to a certain extent.”
It was announced this week that the Royal Family’s social media accounts will block users who post offensive or abusive messages on official channels.
The Duchess told the audience of around 140 students and activists, including the broadcasters Konnie Huq and Moira Stuart, and digital entrepreneur Martha Lane Fox: “It’s our responsibility to make a choice on what we click on, we make a choice of what we read, we make a choice of what we engage in.”
Meghan, newly unveiled as vice-president of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, also said there was “nothing threatening” about women rising to the same level as men.
“It’s our safety in numbers – this is our power and our strength as a team, and that’s gender neutral if you really think about it, “she said.
Asked how her pregnancy was proceeding, the Duchess replied: “Very well”. She said she had been watching a “documentary about feminism on Netflix and one of the things they said during pregnancy was ‘I feel the embryonic kicking of feminism’”.
She told the audience: “I loved that. Boy or girl, whatever it is, we hope that’s the case.”
The Countess of Wessex hosted a separate reception at Buckingham Palace, for women working towards peace. It brought together key figures from around the world, including politicians and “peacebuilding campaigners” from countries affected by conflict.