Australia rushed through ‘ill-thought-out’ under-16s social media ban, Reddit argues as high court challenge begins
Summary
Reddit argued in Australia’s High Court that the country’s under-16 social media ban was rushed through in 2024 and restricts young people’s political communication. The government says the ban addresses risks to young people’s health; the court is considering whether those risks justify the limits.Key Facts
- Reddit challenges the ban on the ground that it limits the implied freedom of political communication for people under 16.
- Reddit’s lawyer said the legislation passed within a week in 2024, after just 24 hours for submissions.
- The ban took effect in December 2025, according to the article.
- More than 5 million accounts believed by platforms to belong to under-16s have been suspended or deactivated across 10 platforms.
- Platforms covered include Reddit, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, X, Twitch and Threads.
- Reddit says under-16s can view subreddit content without accounts but cannot post, comment or upvote.
- The government cites risks including mental health, sleep and eating disorder problems as grounds for the ban.
- The Digital Freedom Project is also challenging the ban in the High Court.
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