12:06 PM EDT, 04/01/2024 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with statement from a TikTok spokesperson in the sixth paragraph.)

Meta Platforms ( META ) , TikTok owner ByteDance, and Snapchat parent Snap (SNAP) are facing a lawsuit in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Canada over allegedly addictive products.

"Endemic social media use is causing an unprecedented youth mental health crisis," the Toronto District School Board said in its complaint filed Wednesday, according to media reports.

The damages being sought by school districts in Toronto, Ottawa, and the Peel Region total about 4.5 billion Canadian dollars, ($3.32 billion), the reports said.

A Snapchat spokesperson told MT Newswires the platform was designed to be different from traditional social media.

"While we will always have more work to do, we feel good about the role Snapchat plays in helping close friends feel connected," the spokesperson said.

"TikTok has industry-leading safeguards such as parental controls, an automatic 60-minute screen time limit for users under 18, age restrictions on features like push notifications, and more," a TikTok spokesperson told MT Newswires. "Our team of safety professionals continually evaluate emerging practices and insights to support teens' well-being."

Meta Platforms ( META ) did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires.

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