Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have issued a powerful response following a landmark US court ruling against major tech giants, calling the verdict a long-overdue “reckoning” for the social media industry.
In a potentially precedent-setting decision delivered in Los Angeles on Wednesday, a jury found Meta and Google, the parent company of YouTube, liable in a case brought by a young woman who claimed her childhood addiction to social media worsened her mental health struggles.
The ruling marks a significant moment in a growing wave of legal challenges against tech companies, with thousands of similar cases currently in progress. The jury recommended the now 20-year-old plaintiff be awarded $6 million in damages, a decision both companies have said they will appeal.
Reacting to the verdict, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not hold back. “This verdict is a reckoning,” they said in a joint statement. “For too long, families have paid the price for platforms built with total disregard for the children they reach.
“We stand with every parent and young person who refused to be silenced. Today, the truth has been heard and precedent has been set.
“Let this be the change, where our children’s safety is finally prioritised above profit.”
The couple’s remarks underline their long-standing advocacy around digital safety and mental health, particularly for young people navigating an increasingly complex online world.
Before the verdict was announced, a spokesperson for the Sussexes described the trial as a “turning point” for big tech, noting it had forced some of the most powerful companies in the world to publicly answer for decisions that shaped an entire generation’s daily lives.
The case centered on claims that platforms owned by Meta, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, alongside YouTube, were deliberately designed to maximize user engagement, particularly among younger audiences, without sufficient regard for their wellbeing.
While the jury sided with the plaintiff, both companies strongly pushed back. A Meta spokesperson said “teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app,” while Google argued the verdict misunderstood YouTube, insisting it is “a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.”
© InstagramOther major platforms, including Snapchat and TikTok, were also named in the lawsuit but reached settlements before the trial began.
The California ruling comes amid mounting legal and public scrutiny of social media companies. Just a day earlier, a jury in New Mexico also found Meta liable under state consumer protection laws for misleading the public about the safety of its platforms and failing to adequately protect children.
For Harry and Meghan, the outcome represents more than just a legal milestone,
Through their Archewell Foundation, the couple has consistently raised awareness about the potential harms of social media, particularly its impact on young people’s mental health. Their Parents’ Network initiative was launched as a support system for families affected by online harm, offering community and resources to those navigating similar challenges.
In 2025, the pair also unveiled a memorial in New York City dedicated to young people who lost their lives due to the harmful effects of social media, a deeply personal and emotional project that highlighted the real-world consequences behind the headlines.
© @MeghanSpeaking previously at a Project Healthy Minds event, Harry reflected on how dramatically the digital landscape has reshaped modern life.
“The digital world has fundamentally changed how we experience reality,” he said. “Young people are exposed to relentless comparison, harassment, misinformation and an attention economy designed to keep us scrolling at the expense of sleep and real human contact.”
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