Reddit has lodged a High Court challenge against Australia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s, claiming the law infringes on free political expression and creates privacy concerns.
While continuing to comply with the legislation, the US-based platform argues that the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 unconstitutionally limits political communication by preventing young Australian users from engaging in online political discussion.
Reddit said in a post on Friday that although it supports protecting young people, the law “has the unfortunate effect of forcing intrusive and potentially insecure verification processes on adults as well as minors, isolating teens from the ability to engage in age-appropriate community experiences”. The platform also described the ban as creating an “illogical patchwork” of which services are included.
“This case is also not about opposing child safety measures or even regulation. There are more targeted, privacy-preserving measures to protect young people online without resorting to blanket bans,” Reddit said.
“There are less restrictive alternatives available (citing the Australian Human Rights Commission) that could achieve the aim of protecting children and young people from online harms, but without having such a significant negative impact on other human rights.”
The platform also argued it should not fall under the legislation, noting that it functions as an adult-oriented public forum rather than a conventional social media service, with most content viewable without an account.
A directions hearing is slated for February, with a final ruling unlikely before late 2026.
This case follows a separate High Court challenge, lodged by Digital Freedom Project and supported by youth advocates, that is also targeting the new law.
