A US court has ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million over allegations it failed to protect young users, after state authorities proved the tech giant hid systemic platform dangers from families. The ruling adds to an earlier $375 million penalty, bringing combined financial penalties to $942 million. District Judge Bryan Biedscheid declared Meta a public nuisance, comparing its societal harm to toxic industrial air pollution. Court records showed automated recommendation tools pushed minors toward inappropriate content and facilitated unwanted adult contact. State prosecutors brought the civil lawsuit in 2023, citing violations of the state Unfair Practices Act. Meta must deposit funds into an independent abatement trust, with approximately $420 million allocated for clinical and behavioral health treatment programs. The remaining balance will fund educational campaigns and healthcare worker training over five years. The court also mandated operational changes: Meta must stop recommending underage accounts to adults, prohibit direct messages between adults and unrelated minors, block push notifications overnight, cap underage monthly usage at 90 hours across Facebook and Instagram, and eliminate visible like counts for teenage accounts. A corporate spokesperson told the BBC that Meta strongly disagrees with the decision.