Harry and Meghan blast Meta after $18bn child safety settlement

The couple drew particular attention to what they characterised as a glaring omission from Meta’s own public remarks. "The statement fails to apologise or mention the billions it will pay out because of claims brought by the 29-state coalition and the 47 states plus the District of Columbia and territories included in the settlement," they said.

The Sussexes argued that Meta’s data-extraction business model, which has profited from children and all users for years, means the company is more than capable of absorbing the financial penalty.

They pointed to estimates suggesting the firm will earn back the equivalent of the $17 billion settlement within just 30 days.

"By choosing to settle, the company paid to avoid yet another trial outcome that would force it into accountability," the couple stated.

The settlement obliges Meta to pay penalties for breaching federal child privacy legislation and state consumer protection laws.

Alongside the settlement, Meta revealed a series of product modifications aimed at teenage users, including a ban on platform access between midnight and 6am, the suppression of notifications during school hours, the removal of beauty filters deemed harmful to mental health, and the introduction of an optional chronological feed to replace algorithm-driven content recommendations.

The Sussexes acknowledged these changes as significant but struck a cautious note regarding the company’s emphasis on giving parents additional controls.

They suggested such measures will require rigorous testing, given Meta’s track record of shifting the burden of safety onto families rather than embedding protections into its products.

The couple also stated that curbing the time teenagers spend on the platforms would directly undermine Meta’s advertising-dependent business model, which thrives on maximising user engagement.

Meta’s own statement called on YouTube and TikTok to adopt comparable design changes, and the Sussexes expressed hope that the settlement would swiftly prompt action from other technology leaders.

The agreement could also have ramifications for ongoing legal challenges facing rival platforms including Snap, YouTube and TikTok.

Prince Harry and Meghan framed the outcome as evidence that the industry now faces an unstoppable coalition demanding reform.

"This result clearly signals that Meta and social media companies understand they are up against an immovable force of parents, survivors, and advocates who will not back down until we see change in how our young people interact with online spaces," they said.

The couple pledged continued solidarity with families, youth partners, legal experts and campaigners pursuing lasting accountability across the digital landscape.