Meta Platforms, TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat parent Snap have known, but intentionally disregarded, the addictive and destructive effects their social platforms have on teens and children, alleges a lawsuit filed in federal court in Oakland, California, reports MediaDailyNews.

The report adds that last October, “a judicial panel consolidated more than two dozen complaints filed across the country on behalf of teens and young adults into a single class action, but an unredacted version was just made available over this past weekend.

“The many accusations include that the companies intentionally use algorithms that drive addictive behaviors leading to anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, eating disorders and sometimes suicide.”

“These never-before-seen documents show that social media companies treat the crisis in youth mental health as a public relations issue rather than an urgent societal problem brought on by their products,” the three plaintiffs’ lawyers leading the lawsuit, Lexi Hazam, Previn Warren and Chris Seeger, said in a statement.”

More here.