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

Reddit has filed a lawsuit against the Australian government in its High Court, challenging a new law that prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from using several major social media platforms, including Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram.

The law, which took effect on December 10, 2025, requires platforms to use age-verification technology to ensure compliance, with fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars for non-compliance. According to Gizmodo, Reddit argues that this law infringes on the freedom of political communication for teenagers, isolating them from participating in important discussions, especially as they will soon be eligible to vote.

In its filing, Reddit claims the law is arbitrary and goes beyond its intended purpose, noting that most of its content is accessible without an account, hence the risk of harm is minimal. The platform also highlights the law's potential to impose intrusive and insecure verification processes on users of all ages, stating it would limit access to age-appropriate community experiences for young Australians.

The Australian government, represented by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office, has maintained that they are committed to protecting minors online but did not provide specific comments on the lawsuit.

As other countries, including Denmark and Malaysia, consider similar regulations, the outcome of this case could set a significant precedent for global social media laws concerning minors. Reddit maintains that there are more targeted, privacy-preserving measures to protect young people online without enforcing blanket bans, emphasizing that the law could stifle political discourse among youth.