Online forum Reddit blasts Australia's 'inept' under-16 social media ban as High Court judges hear a free-speech challenge

Noah Jones, a 16-year-old outside the scope of the ban, told reporters the law is "a stepping stone further and further to censorship" disguised as child safety.

Australia's High Court is considering two challenges to the world-first law banning under-16s from Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Snapchat and seven other platforms, with seven judges signalling scepticism toward the free-speech arguments on the first day of a two-day hearing. Reddit, one of ten companies covered by the ban, accused the government of imposing restrictions that are "ill-thought-out and overbroad," while the Digital Freedom Project argued the law strips millions of teenagers of a constitutionally implied right to political communication.

Several justices pushed back, suggesting children can influence public debate without social media and that the harms of these platforms to developing brains are not trivial.

A Sydney teenager, Noah Jones, who was removed as a plaintiff over fears he could face legal costs if the case fails, told reporters outside court the law is "just a stepping stone further and further to censorship."

Australia's Communications Minister Anika Wells noted the ban has already been replicated by Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia, the UAE and the UK, with similar laws before parliaments across Europe and several US states.

The IndependentAustralia's highest court hears challenges to social media ban for children ReutersReddit blasts 'inept' Australian social media ban as challenge airs in court PoliticoReddit slams ‘ill-thought-out and overbroad’ social media age restrictions NYT WorldAustralian Court Hears Challenge to Social Media Ban seMissourianAustralia's highest court hears challenges to social media b... - seMissourian Traverse City Record-EagleAustralia's highest court hears challenges to social media ban for children - Traverse City Record-Eagle

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