Reddit challenges Australia youth social media ban
The social media platform Reddit challenged Australia’s under-16s social media ban on Friday in the country’s High Court, two days after implementing age restrictions on its website.The legal action seeks a judicial review of Australia’s Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA) law, which took effect on December 10. While Reddit states it is complying with the ban, it argues the legislation is overbroad, infringes on adult privacy and free expression, and fails to protect young people effectively.The government’s position is that a blanket ban is a necessary protective measure for children’s mental health. Reddit’s challenge contends that the law’s platform-level age verification mechanism is flawed, creates privacy risks, and unjustly encompasses services like its own, which it argues is an adult-oriented forum rather than a traditional social network.In its official blog post announcing the challenge, Reddit outlined its rationale, stating it believes “there are more effective ways for the Australian government to accomplish our shared goal of protecting youth.” The company argued in its application with the High Court of Australia that the law forces “intrusive and potentially insecure verification processes” on all users and isolates teens from important civic discourse. The company cites the Australian Human Rights Commission’s stated concern that “less restrictive alternatives” could achieve the law’s aims without such a significant impact on human rights.The legal challenge, while a significant test of the new law, is still a preliminary step. Reddit has explicitly stated that its case is “not an attempt to avoid compliance,” and it will continue to engage with regulators like Australia’s eSafety Commissioner.
