The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have welcomed a significant legal victory against Meta and YouTube, stating that “truth has been heard” following a jury decision in Los Angeles that found the companies negligent in a high-profile social media addiction case.
In a statement to PEOPLE, the couple described the outcome as a pivotal moment. “This verdict is a reckoning,” they said. “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.”
Harry and Meghan highlighted the broader implications of the ruling, linking it to a separate decision in New Mexico. “Today’s verdict in Los Angeles and yesterday’s ruling in New Mexico are landmark victories for families, advocates, and young people everywhere,” they shared, adding that “justice has caught up to Big Tech.”
The couple placed the blame squarely on the platforms themselves, stating, “The harm isn’t in parenting, it’s in product design.” They argued that the underlying systems of social media were “built to exploit, not protect.”
In response, a Meta spokesperson expressed disagreement with the verdict, noting, “Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app,” while confirming the company is reviewing its legal options. Similarly, a Google spokesperson, representing YouTube, pushed back, stating, “This case misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media.”
The couple’s remarks come as part of their ongoing philanthropic efforts, which have long focused on advocating for online safety.
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