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Australian government defends social media ban for under 16s in court
Australia’s government has defended its ban on social media use by under-16s before the country’s highest court, arguing that it addresses risks to children’s mental health. The legal challenge could affect other countries considering similar restrictions, including France and the United Kingdom.
Reddit and rights group Digital Freedom Project say the law is disproportionate and limits constitutionally protected political communication. The ban covers 10 platforms, including Reddit, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, which can face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars for failing to take reasonable steps to remove under-16s’ accounts. Government data says five million accounts have been closed since the ban began in December, though some children still bypass age checks; the court is expected to rule in the coming months.
In short
- Australia’s highest court is considering a challenge to its under-16 social media ban.
- Reddit says the law is too broad and restricts political communication.
- Five million accounts have been closed, but some children still bypass age checks.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that social media can expose children to harms affecting their mental health, and that age limits give platforms a clear duty to reduce that exposure. They see the closures as evidence that the law can reach large numbers of accounts, while allowing reasonable steps rather than demanding perfect enforcement.
The case against
Opponents argue that a broad ban is disproportionate because it restricts young people’s access to platforms they use for information, discussion and political expression. They contend that fines and age checks may burden platforms and users without preventing all under-16s from accessing the services, and that narrower safeguards could address risks while preserving those rights.
Explained simply
Australia’s constitution protects political communication, meaning some laws can be challenged if they restrict people’s ability to discuss public affairs. The country’s highest court, the High Court of Australia, decides how those constitutional protections apply.
The law applies to 10 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Reddit and YouTube. It requires them to take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from having accounts, with large fines possible if they fail to do so.
The case raises questions about how governments can protect children online while respecting other rights. Its outcome may be relevant to countries such as France and the UK, where similar restrictions are being considered.