Reddit takes legal action against Australia’s social media ban for users under 16; US-based firm claims barring U-16 teens would impede political discourse in the country

Reddit files lawsuit against Australia’s social media ban: Online discussion website Reddit has filed a lawsuit challenging Australia’s new rule that bans users under 16 from accessing social media platforms. The US-based company argues that the law would significantly limit political participation and discussion among younger Australians, who often use online spaces to learn, debate, and engage with civic issues. The platform also warns that the ban could set a troubling precedent for online freedoms. By taking legal action, Reddit hopes to overturn the policy and protect access to digital communities for teens across the country.

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The company argues the law violates the implied freedom of political communication and restricts young people’s ability to engage in public discourse. In the court filing, signed by lawyers Perry Herzfeld and Jackson Wherrett, Reddit named the Commonwealth of Australia and Communications Minister Anika Wells as defendants, reported Reuters.
“We will stand firm to protect young Australians from experiencing harm on social media,” a spokesperson for Wells said in response to Reddit’s action.

In its 12-page legal filing, Reddit argued that preventing users under 16 from accessing the platform would hinder political discussion in Australia.
But the law “carries some serious privacy and political expression issues for everyone on the internet,” Reddit said in a statement, as quoted by Reuters, published alongside its court filing. “So, we are filing an application to have the law reviewed.”
“Australian citizens under the age of 16 will, within years if not months, become electors. The choices to be made by those citizens will be informed by political communication in which they engage prior to the age of 18,” the statement read.
Australia implemented the world’s first legally enforced minimum age for social media access on December 10. Reddit and nine other major platforms, including Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, had opposed the rule for over a year before ultimately agreeing to comply.

Under the law, platforms must block users under 16 or risk fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32.98 million), though teens and their caregivers won’t be penalized. To meet the requirements, companies are relying on tools such as age inference, which analyzes online behavior, and age estimation technologies that use a selfie to verify age.

Reddit’s lawsuit is separate from another filed by an internet rights group last month, which is also challenging the law, arguing that it represents an ‘unfair’ attack on free speech.

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS WHICH ARE NOT BANNED FOR UNDER-16S

• Roblox
• Pinterest
• YouTube Kids
• Discord
• WhatsApp
• GitHub
• LEGO Play
• Steam and Steam Chat
• Google Classroom
• Messenger
• LinkedIn
• Lemon8
• Yope
• Coverstar

The government has indicated that the list is dynamic, meaning other platforms could be added later if children start using them after the ban and they raise similar safety concerns.

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS WHICH ARE BANNED FOR UNDER-16S

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Snapchat
• X (Twitter)
• YouTube
• Reddit
• Twitch
• Kick
• Threads