Full Breakdown
Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Tested in High Court
By Drooid · · How we work
The Ban and Legal Challenge
The Australian government introduced a nationwide prohibition on social-media accounts for users under 16 years old in December last year. The measure is now being contested in the High Court, with the platform Reddit filing one of two legal challenges. Reddit argues that the ban infringes the implied freedom of political communication and fails to address the underlying risk of harm, noting that design features targeted by the ban remain accessible to users without accounts.
Government Rationale
In its defence, the government acknowledges that scientific consensus on a causal link between social-media use and mental-health harms has not been reached. Nevertheless, it maintains that “significant credible risks” exist for addictive behaviours, disrupted sleep, worsening depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among children. The government also contends that its proposed digital-duty-of-care legislation would achieve the same protective effect by requiring platforms to disable targeted features for under-16 users.
Enforcement Data
The government cites “substantial practical action,” reporting that nearly five million under-16 accounts were removed in December last year. Reddit itself suspended 43,962 accounts between December and March this year. Additional measures include expanding the powers of the eSafety Commissioner and raising potential fines to almost $100 million for non-compliance.
Verbatim Quote
- “If the commonwealth wishes to address a problem with content to young people, it could address it directly as part of this proposal.” — Reddit