Surely it's time for us all to be more kind?
The Princess of Wales in the video she released explaining about her cancer diagnosis
Lord knows there have been enough column inches (miles more like) and internet and social media posts devoted to the video made by the Princess of Wales explaining about her recent “incredibly tough” health challenges and cancer diagnosis. So whilst I hesitate to add to, and thereby in any way extend, the commotion surrounding it, I do want to share what has been upmost in my mind after watching it.
Kate’s honest, brave and immeasurably dignified response to the increasingly frenzied speculation about her ‘mysterious’ disappearance following abdominal surgery at the start of the year (and let’s not forget the furore over that ‘doctored’ Mother’s Day photo) did exactly what I’m sure it was carefully designed to - it stopped all that baying bedlam in its tracks.
What you can also only hope, is that it has done an equally thorough job of silencing the sadly far too many critical and insensitive opinions about Catherine, her health and her family, that people have seen fit to share with their followers, readers and viewers across the media and on-line.
We know that the digital world especially, with its accompanying anonymity and detachment, can prove a breeding ground for negativity, conflict and a lack of empathy. And we know too, as what has happened to the Princess demonstrates only too clearly, that social media and commentary can whip participants into a free-for-all frenzy, where even the most outlandish and outrageous views gain traction and credibility.
I would really like to think, no, hope, that at least some of the people who saw fit to wade into those maliciously muddy waters are feeling at least a modicum of mortification. But there’s something else I hope for much more than that.
And that is that this might prove to be a watershed moment in which each of us undertake to approach social media particularly, but our interactions generally whether on-line or face-to-face, with a mindset rooted in kindness and empathy, rather than dissent and division.
When it comes to social media we know that it has the power to connect people around the world, transcending geographical boundaries and cultural divides. But we also know that too often it's easy to lose sight of the human connection that lies at the heart of all those virtual interactions and the fact that behind every profile picture, username (and in Kate’s case, public persona) is a real person with feelings, struggles, challenges and aspirations.
If nothing else, the Princess’s video has shown us just how devastating the truth of that can be.
Ultimately, fostering kindness in the digital sphere requires a collective effort and a shift in mindset and behaviour. By approaching social media with empathy, and a commitment to uplifting others, we can harness its potential as a force for good and create a more compassionate and connected online world.
So, here are my hopes:
That we all do our best to be more kind, both online and offline.
That we recognise that we can never know what struggles another person is facing and always treat them with respect, empathy and understanding.
That we each play our part in helping to make social media a place for spreading positivity and good-will.
And that a young woman, who happens to be a Princess, is left alone to take care of herself and her family in peace and privacy.
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