US forum Reddit slams Australia's 'ill-thought-out and overbroad' under-16 social media ban as the High Court hears its 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 opened a two-day constitutional hearing on Tuesday as Reddit and the Digital Freedom Project mounted a challenge to the world-first law prohibiting under-16s from using Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, YouTube and six other platforms. Seven judges considered arguments that the restrictions infringe an implied constitutional right to political communication, with Reddit also contending it had been wrongly classified alongside the other banned platforms.

Reddit's submission warned that account bans leave children more vulnerable, stripping them of built-in safety features and exposing them to harmful content without those protections.

Several justices challenged Reddit's case, indicating that any restriction on political communication was limited in scope and that the potential dangers of social media should not be dismissed lightly.

Former plaintiff Noah Jones, now 16 and outside the ban's reach, called the law 'a stepping stone further and further to censorship' masked as child safety.

The IndependentAustralia's highest court hears challenges to social media ban for children Yahoo News UKHigh Court hears bid to overturn Australia social media ban 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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