Australia tells the High Court its under-16 social media ban is a 'modest' step as Reddit challenges the law

Platforms including Reddit challenged the Australian teenage social media ban in the High Court, where government lawyers argued young brains are uniquely vulnerable to addictive design.

Reddit is challenging Australia's under-16 social media ban in the High Court, arguing the legislation was "ill-thought-out" and "over-broad" after being rushed through parliament in 2024. Government barrister Stephen Lloyd SC told the court the ban is a precise instrument — the sharpest available means of addressing the addictive features harming teenagers online. The law covers ten platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat and X.

Reddit argues the ban unconstitutionally restricts under-16s' implied freedom of political communication.

Platforms could escape the ban by stripping out algorithms, the High Court heard.

The government told the court the ban has only a 'modest' effect on teens' political communication, pushing back on Reddit's overbreadth claim.

The IndependentAustralia argues in court that social media ban is needed to protect children's brains ReutersAustralia social media teen ban a 'modest' step, says government in top court challenge PoliticoSocial media for kids could go algorithm-free to avoid ban, High Court hears Digital Watch ObservatoryAustralia’s High Court hears challenge to under-16 social media law - Digital Watch Observatory The GuardianAustralia’s social media ban has only modest effect on teens’ political communication, government tells court

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