The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have welcomed a 'reckoning' for social media companies after a US court found Meta and Google liable for a woman's childhood social media addiction. In a landmark ruling in Los Angeles, a jury determined that the tech giants built platforms designed to hook young users without adequate regard for their well-being.
The lawsuit was brought by a 20-year-old woman who argued that her childhood addiction to social media exacerbated her mental health issues. The jury recommended she be awarded $6 million (£4.4 million) in damages. Both Meta and Google have indicated they plan to appeal the verdict.
In a statement, Harry and Meghan said: 'This verdict is a reckoning. 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.'
Before the verdict, a spokesperson for the couple described the trial as a 'turning point' for big tech firms, forcing them to reveal their practices in public. The ruling could influence thousands of similar cases accusing social media companies of causing harm. Snapchat and TikTok, also named in the lawsuit, settled before the trial began.
The Duke and Duchess have long campaigned for stronger online protections for children. In 2025, they unveiled a memorial in New York City for young people who died due to social media's harmful effects, and their Archewell Foundation launched the Parents' Network to support families affected by online harm.
