Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have publicly condemned Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, for its "data-extraction business model" that they allege has harmed children and all users. The criticism comes in the wake of Meta agreeing to a settlement of up to $17.1 billion to resolve a lawsuit alleging the company's platforms are designed to be addictive and harmful to minors.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stated that Meta chose to settle the legal battle to avoid further accountability, despite having the financial means to cover the settlement and continue its business practices. They noted that Meta is estimated to recoup the settlement amount in profits within 30 days, underscoring the company's extensive resources derived from its business model.
Meta has agreed to implement significant new protections for teenage users as part of the settlement. These measures, which require court approval and participation from U.S. states, include default restrictions on platform use between midnight and 6 a.m., disabling notifications during school hours, an option for a chronological feed, and a ban on certain filters deemed harmful to mental health. The company has also committed to improving tools to prevent underage account creation and to protect teenagers from harmful content.
Harry and Meghan, who have become prominent advocates for online safety, described the settlement as a "positive step" for those campaigning for safer online environments. They stated that the outcome demonstrates that social media companies are facing pressure from parents, survivors, and advocates demanding change in how young people interact with online platforms. "We celebrate with the parent and youth partners, legal and policy experts, and allies everywhere fighting for accountability," the couple said in their statement. "As always, we stand with them as they seek justice going forward, ensuring child online safety is built into any online space where our young people spend time."
The lawsuit, filed by 47 U.S. states, accused Meta of designing Instagram with features that could negatively impact the mental health of children and teenagers. The settlement resolves these claims and is considered one of the largest in the history of state consumer protection law in the U.S.
Meta has urged rival platforms such as TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar safety measures, suggesting that a portion of the settlement amount would be contingent on these competitors implementing comparable restrictions. The company's chief legal officer, CJ Mahoney, emphasized the need for an industry-wide solution, stating that the effectiveness of Meta's new protections depends on other platforms following suit. These new measures are intended to apply to users under 18 in participating U.S. states and are not set to be implemented globally.
Following the announcement of the settlement, Harry and Meghan returned to the UK after six years in the U.S. The couple, along with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, arrived in Birmingham. It is understood they will be establishing a home in the UK while maintaining their properties in California and Portugal, planning to live as an "international" family.