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

Social media platform Reddit has initiated a legal challenge against Australia’s new law prohibiting individuals under the age of 16 from creating accounts on major social media platforms. The law, which took effect on March 15, 2024, affects ten platforms, including Reddit, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and YouTube.

In a filing with the High Court, Reddit contends that the ban violates free political speech and raises privacy concerns. The company emphasized its commitment to youth safety online, asserting that the court action is not an effort to evade compliance. In a statement on its platform, Reddit expressed, “We believe there are more effective ways for the Australian government to accomplish our shared goal of protecting youth.”

The platform criticized the law for necessitating “intrusive and potentially insecure verification processes” for both minors and adults. Reddit argued that the law isolates teenagers from engaging in age-appropriate online communities and creates an inconsistent framework regarding which platforms are affected. The company also pointed out that its user base primarily consists of adults, claiming it does not target advertising to users under 18. Prior to the law, Reddit had an age rating of 17+ in the Apple App Store.

Government’s Response and Rationale

Australian Health Minister Mark Butler responded sharply to Reddit’s legal challenge, accusing the company of prioritizing profits over safety. He stated, “Across our history, when our governments have taken strong action to protect citizens against highly addictive, highly damaging products, they’ve usually been challenged in the courts by the companies that profit most from them.” Butler dismissed Reddit’s claims, labeling them as insincere and asserting that the government would “fight this action every step of the way.”

Butler drew parallels between Reddit’s actions and historical resistance from tobacco companies against public health measures. He asserted that Australia is under scrutiny from other nations, as it is the first country to implement such a ban. “If it is a success, I’m very confident they’ll follow suit and take the same sorts of actions to protect their young citizens as well,” he added.

The legislation, which received near-universal support from major political parties in parliament, aims to safeguard young people from risks like cyberbullying, harmful content, and problematic consumption. Companies impacted by the regulation have a year to implement age verification measures, with penalties for non-compliance reaching up to $49.5 million AUD (approximately $33 million USD). Notably, messaging services such as WhatsApp, email, online games, and educational platforms are excluded from the ban.

Despite the law’s implementation, numerous teenagers reported that their accounts remained active or that they managed to circumvent the regulation on its first day. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the new measures and the challenges companies will face in enforcing compliance.

As the legal proceedings unfold, both Reddit and the Australian government are set to navigate a contentious landscape where youth safety and digital freedoms intersect.