A US judge in New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay another $567 million over allegations that the company failed to properly warn the public about the risks its social media platforms pose to children.

The latest ruling marks the biggest judgment against Meta in a child safety case. It adds to the $375 million in fines that the company had already been ordered to pay in the same case.

Judge Calls Meta a Public Nuisance

Judge Bryan Biedscheid, who is handling the case, described Meta as a "public nuisance" similar to air pollution. He ordered the company to put the additional money into a fund designed to reduce future harm caused by its platforms.

The judge also compared Meta to a factory. He described advertising and online content as the company's products. He called "the psychological harm and sexual exploitation of children to be the pollution that must be abated".

The earlier $375 million ruling had already triggered a response from Meta. The company said it planned to appeal that decision.

Prosecutors Seek Major Changes at Meta

The second phase of the case also focused on changes to how Meta operates its platforms. Prosecutors asked the judge to order major reforms. They want Meta to reduce features that encourage addictive use among children and teenagers.

They also called for stronger age-verification systems. In addition, prosecutors want Meta to improve its safeguards against child sexual exploitation. They proposed stronger default privacy settings for young users. They also sought greater oversight of the company's systems and safety measures.

Total Penalty Reaches $942 Million

With the latest ruling, Meta could face a total of $942 million in penalties in the New Mexico case. However, the amount represents only a small part of the company's overall earnings. Meta reported annual profits of about $60 billion in 2025.

Investors therefore showed little reaction to the ruling. Meta's shares fell by less than 0.5% in after-hours trading on Thursday, reaching $589.44.

Ruling Adds to Meta's Legal Pressure

Despite the limited impact on Meta's stock, the ruling creates another major legal challenge for the company. Meta faces thousands of lawsuits from families who claim their children suffered harm after using social media platforms.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the ruling sends a clear warning to technology companies. He argued that companies must face consequences when they knowingly design products that expose children to risks.

“Today’s decision is a victory for every parent who has worried about what social media is doing to their child and every child who deserves to grow up safer online,” he said in a statement.

Meta Plans to Appeal

Meta has rejected the allegations and confirmed that it will appeal the ruling. The company said it continues to invest in safety measures across its platforms. It also defended its efforts to identify harmful users and content.

“We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and have been transparent about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors and harmful content,” the company said in a statement. Meta also defended its record on protecting teenagers online. “We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that misrepresent the facts.”

The case adds to growing pressure on Meta to change how its platforms protect children and teenagers from harmful content, exploitation and potentially addictive features.