Social media graphics alleging that a photo shared by Meghan Markle of her daughter, Princess Lilibet, sparked widespread outrage and claims of being “disgusting” leverage classic clickbait sensationalism to monetize royal controversy.
The Reality Behind the Image
- The Photo’s Context: The inset image shows Princess Lilibet sitting on the floor of a walk-in closet in a red dress, looking toward a shoe rack. It was shared as a candid glimpse of family life on social media.
- The Root of the Controversy: Online criticism arose around the timing and optics of the photo rather than its explicit content:
- Timing: The photo was posted online shortly before Meghan delivered a speech in Geneva at a World Health Organization (WHO) event addressing the dangers of social media and online harms to children.
- Criticism: Commentators and royal critics labeled the post “tone-deaf” and “hypocritical,” arguing that sharing photos of her child online conflicted with her advocacy for online safety and child privacy. Others focused on the lavish walk-in closet background.
- Clickbait Exaggeration: Headlines using extreme terms like “This is disgusting” or “People are horrified” blow online commentary out of proportion to maximize click-through rates and algorithmic engagement on social media.
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