Australia under-16 social media ban challenge

“A team of Australia-based researchers published a study in August that found little evidence to suggest teenagers have stopped using social media despite the ban.”

Al JazeeraState mediaReportsAustralia’s High Court hears bid to overturn under-16s social media ban1 hr ago

““Social media is an important means of accessing news and engaging in political communication for young Australians, including children under 16,” the advocacy group argued in written submissions.”

Al JazeeraState mediaReportsAustralia’s High Court hears bid to overturn under-16s social media ban1 hr ago

“Digital Freedom Project, led by New South Wales politician John Ruddick, believes the ban is unconstitutional because it restricts teenagers’ ability to take part in political discourse.”

Al JazeeraState mediaAttributesAustralia’s High Court hears bid to overturn under-16s social media ban1 hr ago

““Young people using other platforms without an account are also unable to be protected from exposure to particular harmful content as they previously had been,” its submission read.”

Al JazeeraState mediaReportsAustralia’s High Court hears bid to overturn under-16s social media ban1 hr ago

““The evidence so far is that the effectiveness of the ban has been limited,” Reddit’s submission reads.”

Al JazeeraState mediaReportsAustralia’s High Court hears bid to overturn under-16s social media ban1 hr ago

“Social media companies were forced to delete millions of accounts after Australia banned those aged below 16 from the likes of Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Reddit last December.”

Al JazeeraState mediaReportsAustralia’s High Court hears bid to overturn under-16s social media ban1 hr ago

“Social media companies were forced to delete millions of accounts after Australia banned those aged below 16 from the likes of Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Reddit last December.”

Al JazeeraState mediaReportsAustralia’s High Court hears bid to overturn under-16s social media ban1 hr ago

“"If the Commonwealth is worried about particular features (of social media), it should regulate the features, which it has not done," he told the court.”

The Times of IndiaPrivateAttributesReddit Fights Teen Account Ban: Platforms contest Australia’s under-16 law; ruling may…2 hrs ago

“He said Reddit supported the objective of minimising harm to young users but argued that the legislation was not an effective way to achieve it.”

The Times of IndiaPrivateAttributesReddit Fights Teen Account Ban: Platforms contest Australia’s under-16 law; ruling may…2 hrs ago

“In response, the government has doubled the maximum penalty for platforms that fail to comply with the law to A$99 million ($69.5 million).”

The Times of IndiaPrivateReportsReddit Fights Teen Account Ban: Platforms contest Australia’s under-16 law; ruling may…2 hrs ago

“"That is a very profound restriction on political debate in Australia," Herzfeld said, adding that the law placed a significant limit on what young people could do.”

The Times of IndiaPrivateAttributesReddit Fights Teen Account Ban: Platforms contest Australia’s under-16 law; ruling may…2 hrs ago

“The Australian government and its communications minister, who has been named as a defendant, have said they will contest the challenge.”

The Times of IndiaPrivateAttributesReddit Fights Teen Account Ban: Platforms contest Australia’s under-16 law; ruling may…2 hrs ago

“The legislation came into force in late 2025, receiving backing from parents but facing opposition from technology companies.”

The Times of IndiaPrivateReportsReddit Fights Teen Account Ban: Platforms contest Australia’s under-16 law; ruling may…2 hrs ago

“Australia's world-first ban on social media accounts for children under 16 is"ill thought out" and imposes a"profound restriction on political debate", a lawyer representing Reddit told the country's top court during the first legal challenge to the legislation.”

The Times of IndiaPrivateAttributesReddit Fights Teen Account Ban: Platforms contest Australia’s under-16 law; ruling may…2 hrs ago

“The Digital Freedom Project – led by NSW libertarian MP John Ruddick, will also be heard challenging the case this week.”

The GuardianNon-profitReportsAustralia rushed through ‘ill-thought-out’ under-16s social media ban, Reddit argues as…4 hrs ago

“Gleeson said the “vast majority of teens the vast majority of time” when under 16 do not engage in politics.”

The GuardianNon-profitAttributesAustralia rushed through ‘ill-thought-out’ under-16s social media ban, Reddit argues as…4 hrs ago

“Since the ban came into effect in December last year, more than 5 million accounts across ten platforms that those platforms believe to be aged under 16 have been suspended or deactivated.”

The GuardianNon-profitReportsAustralia rushed through ‘ill-thought-out’ under-16s social media ban, Reddit argues as…4 hrs ago

“In March this year, the communications minister, Anika Wells, introduced new rules as part of the legislation that defines additional requirements for social media companies to meet the definition including logged-in features, recommendation features, or endless scroll.”

The GuardianNon-profitReportsAustralia rushed through ‘ill-thought-out’ under-16s social media ban, Reddit argues as…4 hrs ago

““A process of this kind is likely to lead to ill-thought out, over-broad legislation,” Herzfeld argued.”

The GuardianNon-profitAttributesAustralia rushed through ‘ill-thought-out’ under-16s social media ban, Reddit argues as…4 hrs ago

“When the government announced the ban in 2024, Reddit argued the legislation was introduced and passed within a week, with only 24 hours of submissions allowed.”

The GuardianNon-profitAttributesAustralia rushed through ‘ill-thought-out’ under-16s social media ban, Reddit argues as…4 hrs ago

“Reddit, one of the top ten websites visited in the world, has challenged the under 16s social media ban on the grounds that it impinges the implied freedom of political communications for teens under 16.”

The GuardianNon-profitReportsAustralia rushed through ‘ill-thought-out’ under-16s social media ban, Reddit argues as…4 hrs ago

“The Australian government’s rush to pass the under-16s social media ban legislation in 2024 led to “ill-thought-out, over-broad legislation” that has since been narrowed after Reddit sued the government, lawyers for the social media company told the high court on Tuesday.”

The GuardianNon-profitAttributesAustralia rushed through ‘ill-thought-out’ under-16s social media ban, Reddit argues as…4 hrs ago

“Platforms risk fines of up to A$99m (US$70m, £52m) for serious or repeated breaches, but since the ban started, no company has been fined.”

BBCPublic broadcasterReportsLegal challenge to Australia's social media ban to start in High Court13 hrs ago

“Communications Minister Anika Wells last year said the government would not be"intimidated by legal threats."”

BBCPublic broadcasterAttributesLegal challenge to Australia's social media ban to start in High Court13 hrs ago

“Two teens who originally spearheaded the case, Noah Jones and Macy Neyland, have since withdrawn as plaintiffs though Jones is still expected to attend Tuesday's hearing.”

BBCPublic broadcasterReportsLegal challenge to Australia's social media ban to start in High Court13 hrs ago

“The group is lead by New South Wales parliamentarian John Ruddick.”

BBCPublic broadcasterReportsLegal challenge to Australia's social media ban to start in High Court13 hrs ago

“The constitutional challenge in Australia's High Court was filed by the Digital Freedom Project a few weeks before the ban started on 10 December last year.”

BBCPublic broadcasterReportsLegal challenge to Australia's social media ban to start in High Court13 hrs ago

“A separate challenge launched by platform Reddit will be jointly heard.”

BBCPublic broadcasterReportsLegal challenge to Australia's social media ban to start in High Court13 hrs ago

“In a major test of the world-leading policy, a digital rights group will argue that the ban for under-16s robs children of their right to free communication.”

BBCPublic broadcasterAttributesLegal challenge to Australia's social media ban to start in High Court13 hrs ago

“Two days of hearings on a challenge to Australia's landmark social media ban for children will begin at the country's highest court on Tuesday.”

BBCPublic broadcasterReportsLegal challenge to Australia's social media ban to start in High Court13 hrs ago