Meghan Markle recently visited Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara to participate in the launch of Social Media U, a digital wellness program. This initiative, supported by #HalfTheStory, aims to promote digital wellbeing among the next generation. The program's nationwide expansion will be funded by the Archewell Foundation, the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation, and Melissa French Gates' Pivotal Ventures.
At the October 2 event in Santa Barbara, Meghan joined Girls Inc. CEO Stephanie J. Hull and #HalfTheStory founder Larissa May to discuss their personal experiences with social media. Larissa May told Vanity Fair that during the event, Meghan spoke about being "one of the most bullied people in the world." However, sources close to The Post dispute this claim, stating that Meghan only discussed her experiences with online bullying without making such a broad statement.
Meghan and May first connected in 2023 when #HalfTheStory was chosen as one of the initial organizations for the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund, backed by Archewell. May emphasized the importance of creating a space for vulnerability to ensure the teens' input was considered. She also commended Meghan and Harry's efforts to support young people in navigating the digital world.
Girls Inc., a partner of #HalfTheStory, reaches approximately 114,000 girls annually through its network of 75 organizations across the US and Canada. Stephanie Hull highlighted the organization's 160-year history of evolving to meet the needs of girls, particularly in the digital realm.
Meghan and Prince Harry have been actively involved in various charitable endeavors. Harry recently attended the WellChild Awards in the UK and visited Lesotho to support Sentebale, his charity for children and adolescents affected by HIV and AIDS. The couple also traveled to Colombia in August for a conference focused on building a better digital future.
