Nearly eleven months after Australia banned under-16s from major social media platforms—resulting in more than five million suspended accounts—the landmark law faces its first major test in the High Court. Reddit and a digital rights advocacy group are challenging the restrictions, arguing that cutting young people off from digital platforms unfairly limits their ability to take part in political debate.
Under the rules, ten major services including Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram must deactivate accounts belonging to children under 16. Because Australia's constitution does not guarantee an explicit right to free speech, the legal challenge relies on a legal doctrine known as the implied freedom of political communication. Reddit argued in court filings that its platform serves as a vital source of news and public discussion, pointing out that teenagers can no longer participate in question-and-answer sessions with politicians or engage with the youth wings of political parties.
In response, the federal government defended the legislation as a necessary measure to protect teenagers from online harms. Authorities argue that platforms rely on addictive features, such as recommendation algorithms, infinite scrolling feeds, and constant notifications, which pose risks to adolescent well-being. Adam Collins, Reddit's chief communications officer, stated that while the company supports protecting young people, "there are better, more effective ways to achieve it" than an outright age ban.
The legal battle also highlights the practical challenges of enforcing the ban. While two teenagers originally joined the lawsuit, they withdrew over fears of facing massive legal costs, leaving the advocacy group to fight questions over whether it has proper legal standing to sue. At the same time, Australia's online safety regulator is investigating whether several tech giants are fully complying, with platforms facing potential fines of up to nearly 100 million Australian dollars if teenagers are still slipping through the restrictions.