New York City, alongside its schools and public hospital system, has filed a lawsuit against major social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube.

The lawsuit alleges that the platforms are 'addictive and dangerous,' contributing to a childhood mental health crisis, and particularly harmful to children and adolescents with developing brains.

The city has incurred expenses providing counseling and developing educational curricula to counteract the effects of social media on youth.

The legal action seeks to classify the tech companies' behavior as a public nuisance and obtain unspecified monetary damages for the city.

Tech companies have defended themselves by highlighting existing policies and features designed to protect user safety.

The lawsuit is part of a broader initiative to address the negative effects of social media on the mental health of young people.