Reddit and Digital Rights Group Challenge Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban in High Court

The update

Two days of High Court hearings begin on Tuesday in a legal challenge to Australia’s social media ban for children under 16. The Digital Freedom Project, led by New South Wales parliamentarian John Ruddick, argues the ban burdens children’s implied freedom of political communication. Reddit’s separate challenge will be heard jointly; the platform argues the law raises serious privacy and political rights concerns while saying it will continue to comply.

Why it matters

The ban took effect on 10 December and requires ten platforms — Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, Snapchat, X, Kick, Threads and Twitch — to stop under-16s holding accounts, with fines of up to A$99 million (about US$70 million) for serious breaches. Australia’s law was the first of its kind, governments elsewhere are watching the case, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said more than five million accounts have been suspended.

What to watch

Australia’s government argues the law reduces harm from features such as algorithms, infinite scroll and persistent notifications, and has questioned whether the Digital Freedom Project has standing to bring its case. The two teenagers who originally led that case have withdrawn, though one is expected to attend. A ruling is unlikely this week, but the outcome will decide whether the ban survives in its current form.

Sources

• bbc.co.uk — confirms the hearing schedule, challengers, platforms covered and fines
• theguardian.com — confirms the challengers’ arguments, the government defence and account suspensions