Meta has been ordered by a court in New Mexico to pay an additional US$567 million over allegations that its social media platforms failed to adequately protect children. Combined with an earlier judgment of US$375 million, the company's total financial penalty in the case has reached US$942 million, making it one of the largest child safety rulings against the technology company.

The court concluded that Meta's recommendation systems repeatedly directed young users toward harmful material and unsafe interactions, exposing minors to explicit content and potential contact with online predators. The ruling determined that these impacts extended beyond individual users and constituted a broader public safety concern.

The lawsuit was originally filed by the State of New Mexico in 2023, arguing that Meta did not sufficiently warn users or prevent risks affecting children across its platforms. During the first phase of the trial, the court found the company had violated the state's consumer protection law through its platform design and recommendation practices.

Meta said it disagrees with the latest ruling and plans to appeal. The company stated it continues investing in teen safety measures, content moderation and the removal of harmful accounts. Meanwhile, Meta still faces thousands of similar lawsuits across the United States concerning the protection of minors on social media.