Australia defends teen social media ban as 'modest' harm prevention measure

Australia's government has argued in the nation's highest court that its ban on social media access for users under 16 represents a measured and necessary step to safeguard adolescents from digital risks. Officials defending the legislation have framed it as a targeted harm minimisation measure rather than an overreaching restriction on digital freedoms. The ban, which has generated significant international attention and debate, prohibits tech platforms from allowing accounts for those below the age threshold. The government contends that the law strikes an appropriate balance between protecting vulnerable young users and maintaining reasonable access to online services. The legislation has become one of Australia's most contentious recent policy initiatives, with stakeholders including technology companies, child safety advocates, and digital rights groups offering competing perspectives on its merits and constitutional validity. The court proceedings will determine whether the law withstands legal challenges mounted against it, with implications that may extend beyond Australia's borders as other nations consider similar age-restriction policies.