The Sussexes called the verdict a long-overdue “reckoning” for the social media giants.

Harry and Meghan issued a statement following a landmark ruling (Image: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W P)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle issued a bold statement following a landmark US court ruling against major tech giants. On Wednesday, a jury found Meta and Google, the parent company of YouTube, liable in a case brought by a 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, and 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, 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.”

The statement continued: “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 was announced, a spokesperson for the Sussexes described the trial as a “turning point” for tech companies.

The case centered on claims that platforms owned by Meta, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, alongside YouTube, were deliberately designed to maximize user engagement.

Harry and Meghan have campaigned against harmful effects of social media (Image: Andrew Esiebo/Getty Images for The Archewell Foundation)

Meanwhile, both companies pushed back with their arguments. 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.”

Other 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.

In 2025, Harry and Meghan unveiled a memorial in New York City dedicated to young people who lost their lives due to the harmful effects of social media.