Reddit: Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Creates ‘Serious Privacy And Political Expression Issues’

Reddit has launched a legal challenge against the Australian government, alleging that its newly introduced age restrictions on social media use by young people create “serious privacy and political expression issues for everyone on the internet.”

Earlier this month, Australia became the first major economy to ban social media for children under 16. The move impacts platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube which could face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($33 million) for failing to comply. Reuters estimates that around 1 million children have been affected by the ban.

The filing, lodged with Australia’s High Court, argues that the under-16 ban contradicts Australia’s “implied freedom of political communication,” which protects citizens’ right to “exercise a free and informed choice as electors.”

Reddit’s legal arguments highlight that there are many subreddits dedicated to discussions of Australian political matters, and that Australian politicians themselves use Reddit to engage with constituents. Reddit’s lawyers also note that “almost all of the content on the site is accessible without an account,” meaning Australia’s new social media rule “will not provide significant protection from online harm for persons under the age of 16.” The company argues that under-16 users can be more easily protected from online harm if they do have a Reddit account, since its settings allow access to potentially harmful content to be restricted.

Many of Australia’s political leaders have taken a dim view of Reddit’s arguments. Reuters reported that Australia’s Health Minister Mark Butler said the government “will fight Reddit’s action every step of the way,” comparing social media companies to the tobacco industry.

“It is action we saw time and time again by Big Tobacco against tobacco control, and we are seeing it now by some social media or big tech giants,” he told reporters in the city of Brisbane.

While Australia may be the only country so far to have enforced an under-16 social media ban, many other countries—and US states—are considering similar measures. Denmark has proposed a ban on social media use for under-15s, with exceptions for parental approval, with legislation expected to take effect in 2026. Malaysia is also considering similar measures targeting under-16s, potentially coming into force in 2026. Meanwhile, France, Brazil, Spain, and Indonesia are also exploring comparable restrictions, with some policymakers pointing to Australia as an example.

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Utah has already passed legislation restricting social media access for under-16s, though the law has been appealed and is still awaiting a court decision.

Reddit isn’t the only major tech firm which has publicly criticised Australia’s policy. Rachel Lord, Google’s senior manager of public policy for Australia, said the rules were “well-intentioned” but risked “unintended consequences.”