Australia's world-first social media prohibition for minors under 16 has reached the High Court following a lawsuit filed by Reddit and a libertarian advocacy group. Court arguments from Reddit contend the law heavily restricts political debate without mandating actual age-verification mechanisms or curbing cyberbullying on alternative platforms like gaming sites. To counteract ongoing underage access documented by the eSafety Commissioner, the Australian government doubled non-compliance penalties to A$99 million (US$69.5 million) and prepared enforcement lawsuits against major tech companies.
Key points
A verdict invalidating the ban could halt momentum for similar youth social media restric…: A verdict invalidating the ban could halt momentum for similar youth social media restrictions planned in Britain and Malaysia.
Reddit's legal counsel contends the legislation unconstitutionally suppresses political d…: Reddit's legal counsel contends the legislation unconstitutionally suppresses political debate instead of regulating specific platform features and addressing alternative spaces like gaming sites.
The Australian government is actively preparing enforcement lawsuits against major social…: The Australian government is actively preparing enforcement lawsuits against major social media platforms as it defends the late 2025 legislation.
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Reddit and a libertarian advocacy group have taken to the High Court to contest the Australian law, which bans large social media platforms from letting under-16s have an account.
CANBERRA: Australia's world-first teen social media ban was "ill thought out" and amounted to a "profound restriction on political debate", a lawyer for messaging platform Reddit told the country's top court in the first legal challenge to the law.
Reddit and a libertarian advocacy group have taken to the High Court to contest the Australian law, which bans large social media platforms from letting under-16s have an account and took effect in late 2025 amid support from parents and opposition from the tech firms.
A successful challenge could usher in more opposition from affected companies and slow a global uptake of similar policies as lawmakers from Britain to Malaysia roll out the measures in an effort to protect youth mental and physical health.
The Australian government and its communications minister, a named defendant, have said they will defend the law.
Addressing the court, Perry Herzfeld, for Reddit, said barring under-16s from…
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