Reddit has escalated tensions with the Australian government. On Friday, the platform filed a High Court lawsuit against the country’s ban on social media use by children under 16. On December 10, the rule came into effect, mandating that social media platforms block underage users.
For any regulatory violation, there are multimillion-dollar fines. Reddit has protested against this law, calling it unconstitutional and an interruption to the digital freedoms of millions of Australians.
The legal fight marks one of the most significant pushbacks yet from a major tech platform as global governments ramp up online safety rules targeting minors.
Reddit considers Australia as one of its strongest markets. Banning all underage people from the platform will hamper the base in the country. The legal fight is registered with a formal High Court filing naming the Commonwealth of Australia and Communications Minister Anika Wells as defendants.
Reddit isn’t a traditional social media platform. This San Francisco-based company offers users a forum to discuss different issues. The filing states that even if the law is enacted, Reddit shouldn’t be subject to the restrictions.
According to a spokesperson from Wells, the government was “on the side of Australian parents and kids, not platforms," and it would “stand firm to protect young Australians from experiencing harm on social media.”
Reddit’s arguments also said the law violates Australia’s freedom of political communication and restricts young people's access to civic dialogue, online communities, and political discussions. The Reddit lawsuit is followed by two Australian teenagers, reflecting wider concerns about the ban’s impact on civil liberties.
Australia has set a new example for the world with this ban. While children's use of social media has been a concern in many countries, Australia’s new ban is the first in the world to block all children under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts on major social platforms. It applies to Reddit, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X, Snapchat, Threads, and several other apps.
Under the law, platforms must take “reasonable steps” to verify ages using AI-based age estimation, identity verification, or other screening technology. Platforms that fail to do this or that violate the rule and allow children under 16 years old face hefty penalties of up to A$49.5 million per violation.
The government argues that the ban is essential to protect children from cyberbullying, exploitation, and harmful content. Critics, however, warn that age-verification measures can bring new issues and security risks. They can restrict young people's access to platforms associated with education and other important sectors.
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One crucial question that remains here is whether Australia’s bold move safeguards children or amounts to excessive governmental control over digital life. The government considers it a safeguard to protect kids, but platforms like Reddit argue that this law restricts fundamental freedoms and imposes untested surveillance.
Now that the Australian High Court has considered the case, the verdict might revolutionize global internet governance.