\n By AP & Euronews\n<\/p>\n
\n Published on
\n 12\/12\/2025 – 9:33 GMT+1\n <\/p>\n
Global online forum Reddit filed a court challenge on Friday to Australia\u2019s law banning children younger than 16 from holding accounts on the world\u2019s most popular social media platforms.<\/p>\n
California-based Reddit Inc.\u2019s suit filed in the High Court follows a case filed last month by Sydney-based rights group Digital Freedom Project.<\/p>\n
Both suits claim the world-first law is unconstitutional because it infringes on Australia\u2019s implied freedom of political communication.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe there are more effective ways for the Australian government to accomplish our shared goal of protecting youth, and the SMMA (Social Media Minimum Age) law carries some serious privacy and political expression issues for everyone on the Internet,\u201d Reddit said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we agree with the importance of protecting people under 16, this law has the unfortunate effect of forcing intrusive and potentially insecure verification processes on adults as well as minors, isolating teens from the ability to engage in age-appropriate community experiences (including political discussions), and creating an illogical patchwork of which platforms are included and which aren\u2019t,\u201d Reddit added.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government declined to comment on the merits of Reddit’s challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Albanese government is on the side of Australian parents and kids, not platforms,\u201d a government statement said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will stand firm to protect young Australians from experiencing harm on social media. The matter is before the courts so it is not appropriate to comment further,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n