Reddit blasts Australia's 'inept' under-16 social media ban as the country's highest court hears free speech challenges

Australia's seven High Court judges began a two-day hearing on Tuesday into two constitutional challenges to the world-first law, which has already forced platforms to purge millions of accounts held by under-16s. Reddit told the court the restrictions were 'ill-thought-out and overbroad', arguing the ban pushes children toward unprotected browsing where safety features cannot reach them. A digital rights group separately contends the law robs young Australians of a constitutionally implied right to free political communication.

Reddit argues the ban is counter-productive: unregistered users lose in-built safety protections that registered accounts provide.

Several justices appeared sceptical of Reddit's case, suggesting children can engage in public debate through other means and that social media harms are 'not trivial'.

Noah Jones, 16, who was dropped as a plaintiff to shield him from legal costs, told reporters outside court the law is 'a stepping stone to censorship'.