Reddit and a libertarian advocacy group have challenged Australia’s ban on social media accounts for people under 16 in the country’s High Court. The law, which took effect in late 2025, requires major platforms to prevent under-16s from holding accounts. The government and its communications minister have said they will defend it.
Arguing for Reddit, lawyer Perry Herzfeld said the ban was “ill thought out” and imposed a “profound restriction on political debate.” He said it prevented young people from creating or responding to content on what he described as a major means of communication.
Reddit supports the goal of reducing harm, Herzfeld told the court, but argued that the legislation does not achieve it. He said the law does not require specific measures to keep minors off platforms and does not cover other online services where cyberbullying can occur, including gaming websites. He also noted that much social media content can be viewed without an account.
Herzfeld argued that if the government is concerned about particular features of social media, it should regulate those features directly. Studies, including work by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, have found that most teenagers below the age limit continue to use social media since the ban began.
The government has doubled the maximum penalty for non-compliance to A$99 million, expanded the eSafety Commissioner’s powers to obtain information and said it is preparing enforcement action against some of the largest platforms. A successful challenge could encourage further opposition to the law and slow the adoption of similar policies elsewhere, the report said.
Sources: Investing.com News.