'The floodgates are open': Harry and Meghan welcome result of landmark social media trial

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have said "the floodgates are open" for more legal cases against tech giants after Google and Meta were found liable for a woman's social media addiction in a landmark lawsuit.

A jury in Los Angels found Instagram, which is owned by Meta, and YouTube, which is owned by Google, were responsible for harm caused to the 20-year-old - awarding her $6m in damages. Meta and Google both said they disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal.

But it's been seen as a bellwether decision that will inform hundreds more cases against social media companies for creating addictive algorithms. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said "accountability has finally arrived" and declared: "The question is no longer whether social media must change - it's when, and how fast." 'The floodgates are now open' In a statement, Harry and Meghan hailed the "landmark" court verdict as a victory "for families, advocates, and young people everywhere - and a powerful message that justice has caught up to Big Tech".

They said the case had "pulled back the curtain" and "confirmed what parents and experts have said all along: the harm isn't in parenting, it's in product design". They said that the outcome had "changed the conversation about tech accountability forever.