Meghan Markle was ridiculed for posting a “tone deaf” photo of her daughter, Princess Lilibet, a day before speaking about the dangers social media causes kids.
Journalist Tom Sykes was present to watch the Duchess of Sussex’s speech at the unveiling of the Lost Screen Memorial art installation in Geneva, Switzerland on Sunday.
The memorial featured 50 illuminated lightboxes, each displaying the image of a child who died as a result of cyberbullying and other digital harms.
Sykes claimed Markle was a hypocrite for “exposing” Lilibet, 4, on Instagram to her more than 4.5 million followers.
“Yes, a woman who is about to stand alongside the world’s most senior public health official and talk about the measurable and preventable harms of exposing children to social media has just — voluntarily, for no apparent reason other than self-promotion — exposed her own child to social media,” Sykes wrote on Substack Sunday.
The image Markle shared featured the princess crouched near her mom’s feet as she watched the “Suits” alum try on outfits in her massive walk-in closet, filled with designer clothing and shoes. The duchess, who also shares son Prince Archie, 7, with husband Prince Harry, has not shared her kids’ faces online.
“A Giorgio Armani blazer hangs prominently on a rail to the right — the label clearly visible,” Sykes penned.
“Several pairs of high-end black pumps are scattered on the floor. In the mirror’s reflection, dozens upon dozens of garments are visible, packed tightly on rails. It is, to put it mildly, quite a lot of stuff. I would estimate there is close to a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of clothing visible in this single frame,” he claimed.
Sykes said the image is not only “boastful” and “vain” but also “staggeringly tone-deaf” given the message Markle was set to share the following day at the event, co-hosted by the World Health Organization and the Sussexes’ Archewell Philanthropies.
The writer wrote that due to Lilibet’s young age, she “cannot meaningfully consent to having [her] image broadcast to millions of strangers.”
“Meghan is exposing HER CHILD to that technology without adequate safeguards,” he claimed.
“Anybody with even a passing familiarity with public communications could have told Meghan that posting a photograph of her daughter in a walk-in closet full of designer clothes the night before a speech about online harms to the world’s poorest children would be, at best, a distraction and at worst a devastating own goal,” Sykes declared.
Page Six has reached out to Markle’s rep for comment but did not immediately hear back.
On Sunday, Markle, 44, rocked an all-black pantsuit as she spoke to the crowd about how addictive and damaging social media can be to children.
“Children today are being shaped by systems designed to capture attention at any cost: relentless algorithms, exploitative engagement and endless exposure to harmful content that they are not seeking out,” she said.
The mom of two urged parents to limit their own social media usage and write their elected officials to demand that laws be put in place to protect the youth.
“Let our children look back at this moment, and let them feel proud of us – that we chose something better – for them, and for us all,” she shared.
Following her speech, the As Ever founder chatted and hugged the families of children who passed away as a result of cyberbullying.
The exhibition will remain on display through the 79th World Health Assembly, which ends Friday.
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