Meghan Markle Explains Why She's Not On Social Media After Ditching Sussex Royal Instagram

Meghan Markle has been absent from social media since she and Prince Harry left the royal family several months ago. And according to the duchess, she made the choice not to return for "self-preservation."

On Tuesday, the Duchess of Sussex had a virtual chat with Fortune for its Most Powerful Next Gen Summit where she shared the real reason why she hasn't had a social media presence even after stepping down as a member of the British royal family.

"For my own self-preservation, I have not been on social media for a very long time," Markle told Fortune associate editor Emma Hinchliffe from her new home in Montecito, California.

Markle explained that after she closed down her personal account years ago, a team had been managing her social media presence when she married Prince Harry and became a duchess. But though she can now technically run her own account, the former actress has no plans to return to social media anytime soon.

"I’ve made a personal choice to not have any account, so I don’t know what’s out there, and many ways that’s helpful for me," she said. "I have a lot of concerns for people that have become obsessed with it. And it is so much a part of our daily culture for so many people that it’s an addiction like many others. There are very few things in this world where you call the person who is engaging with it a user."

Prince Harry and Markle used to have millions of followers on their Sussex Royal Instagram account. In fact, they made it on the Guinness World Records for having the fastest Instagram account to gain 1 million followers. Jennifer Aniston later broke their record in October 2019, and David Attenborough snatched the title from the “Friends” alum last month.

Prince Harry and Markle ditched the account, along with their website, after they marked their final engagement as active members of the royal family. The couple has been prohibited from using the word "royal" in their brand since March due to government rules, BBC reported.

Since then, Prince Harry and Markle have relied on certain organizations they work with for exposure on Twitter and Instagram, producer Lizzie Robinson said on "The Royal Rota" podcast.