Prince Harry has released a statement of support in reaction to Meta’s $567M child safety fine. The media conglomerate was recently ordered by a New Mexico judge to pay another fine, bringing the total amount to $942M for failing to adequately protect children on its social media platforms.
Prince Harry has been a loud critic of the media, having infamously lost a major lawsuit of his own against the British media. However, many social media users pointed out that while Harry is preaching against social media, his wife is using it as a tool to grow her business. Keep reading for more information.
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Prince Harry Reacts To Meta's $567M Child Safety Fine
Earlier this week, a New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay an additional $567M in fines, bringing the total penalty to $942M, finding them guilty of knowingly allowing its platforms to harm young users and enable child sexual exploitation.
A day later, Prince Harry released a statement to People, sharing his support for the outcome. "For years we’ve argued that big tech’s harm to children was a choice, not some inevitable side effect. This is not an accident. It is not a glitch," the Duke of Sussex shared.
"What we’ve seen in the last 24 hours is what accountability looks like. This is what happens when the law finally catches up to decisions made in boardrooms, product meetings, and algorithm reviews — decisions that put social media engagement ahead of safety," he continued.
"The bar has moved, and every platform still choosing engagement over safety should take notice. Change cannot wait another day," he concluded.
Social Media Reacts
Across social media platforms, users couldn't help but see the irony in the situation: Prince Harry calling out Meta and other tech names for their lack of care about child safety, while Meghan Markle lives a largely online life, including posting photos of their family on social media and featuring them in her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. "Harry said this before or after their photo dump of their children on vacation?" one user asked on Instagram.
"Harry should start with his own wife!" another person commented.
"And yet Meghan posts photos of their kids—and, in particular, of other people's kids—to promote herself," added the next.
"His wife is posting all over IG everyday," pointed out another. "It's hypocritical and weird that he doesn't see something so obvious."
"The irony of Harry considering he and his wife rely on social media for their relevance," wrote one user.
"Of course he does," a final user wrote. "Meanwhile wifey is trying to sell everything on IG."
