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Australian government 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.
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 fighting Australia's ban on under-16s using social media in the country's High Court, arguing the law is "ill-thought-out" and "over-broad" and infringes the implied constitutional right to political communication. Government barrister Stephen Lloyd SC countered that the legislation is a targeted tool against addictive algorithmic features, not a blunt instrument, and should be judged on how it operates today.

Platforms covered by the ban include TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook, X, Twitch, Kick, Threads and Reddit itself.

The court also heard that platforms could potentially escape the ban by going algorithm-free for under-16 users.

Reddit cited a 2021 warning from Australia's own eSafety commissioner that banning accounts was a "blunt tool" — the government says that criticism no longer applies.

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