Reddit challenges Australia's social media ban for under-16s in court

Australia's 2025 law banning social media access for users under 16 faces its first major legal test, with Reddit and a libertarian advocacy group mounting a challenge in the High Court. The legislation, aimed at protecting minors from online harms, has become a focal point in the global debate over age restrictions on digital platforms.

The law imposes strict compliance requirements on social media companies and threatens hefty penalties for platforms that fail to enforce the age restriction. The Australian government has signalled its willingness to pursue aggressive enforcement measures against services that do not adequately prevent underage access.

However, critics question the law's practical effectiveness, noting that enforcement has proven difficult. Despite the ban, many teenagers under 16 continue to access social media platforms through various workarounds, highlighting the challenges in implementing age-based digital restrictions at scale.

The High Court challenge is likely to reverberate beyond Australia's borders. Tech industry observers say the outcome could influence how other countries approach social media regulation for minors, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region where several nations are considering similar restrictions.

The case underscores tensions between protecting youth online and maintaining open digital access, with major platforms arguing the law may be impractical to implement while regulators defend their authority to restrict access deemed harmful to children.