Reddit Challenges Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban in Court

Reddit Challenges Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban in Court

In December 2025, Reddit filed a legal challenge in Australia’s High Court against the country’s world-first law restricting social media accounts for children under 16. The ban is contained in the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, which amends the Online Safety Act 2021 and places the compliance burden primarily on platforms rather than parents or minors.

The new regime requires covered services to take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from holding accounts, including age-assurance measures, and it empowers regulators to demand compliance information. Enforcement commenced on 10 December 2025, with civil penalties that can reach A$49.5 million per breach for non-compliance.

The law applies to “age-restricted social media platforms” whose core purpose includes online social interaction. Reports indicate major services are within scope, including platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Reddit, among others.  

Reddit’s challenge argues, first, that the law infringes the implied freedom of political communication recognised in Australian constitutional jurisprudence by restricting how young people access public debate online—especially those nearing voting age. Second, Reddit contends that it is misclassified as a covered “social media platform,” describing itself as primarily topic-based, community discussion rather than conventional social networking. It also raises concerns that blanket age verification could create privacy risks for all users if implemented intrusively.

A preliminary hearing is expected in early 2026 to set timelines, alongside a related challenge supported by a digital rights group representing teenagers.

Globally, countries are adopting different models: the UK emphasises child-safety duties and age-appropriate experiences rather than a blanket minimum age, the EU’s Digital Services Act strengthens protections for minors and bans targeted ads to children, and the US COPPA focuses on parental consent and privacy for under-13s. India’s framework combines intermediary due diligence (IT Rules) with strong child-data protections under the DPDP Act 2023.

Ten Mock UPSC Interview Questions with Model Answers

1) Should governments impose a minimum age for social media, or regulate harms instead of access?