Reddit has filed a legal challenge to Australia’s sweeping new social media ban on under-16s, moving just days after the landmark laws took effect and set the stage for fines against noncompliant tech platforms.
The US-based discussion site is contesting the general validity of the legislation and argues it should not be included on the government’s list of services barred to users under 16, according to court filings. Australia this week became the first country to prohibit under-age access to a raft of popular platforms — including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and X — with companies facing penalties of up to Aus$49.5 million (€28.1 million) if they fail to purge Australia-based users younger than 16.
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Reddit, a network of thousands of topic-focused forums, contends it is not an “age-restricted” app and should therefore be exempt. A company spokesperson said Canberra’s platform selection has been inconsistent, noting that some services with large under-16 communities remain off the banned list. Current exemptions include Roblox, Pinterest and WhatsApp, though the government has said the list is under ongoing review.
In its challenge and public statements, Reddit has also flagged privacy and security concerns tied to age verification measures, warning that collecting more personal data would increase the risk of leaks or hacks. The company has previously said it would comply with the law but called the policy “legally erroneous.”
An Australian government spokesperson said authorities are “on the side of Australian parents and kids, not platforms,” and vowed to stand firm on measures designed to protect minors from online harm. Officials have conceded the rollout will be imperfect and that savvy teenagers may find ways around the restrictions, but they argue unprecedented action is needed to limit exposure to “predatory algorithms” that push bullying and violent content into young users’ feeds.
Reddit’s case arrives alongside a separate lawsuit lodged last month by an internet rights group, which is seeking to overturn the laws on the grounds they amount to an unfair restriction on freedom of speech. Both challenges will test how far governments can go to regulate youth access to social media — and how tech companies respond — as countries weigh new guardrails for a generation raised online.
The policy is being closely watched abroad. New Zealand and Malaysia are considering similar restrictions, while global debate continues over the trade-offs between online safety, privacy and free expression. Australia’s approach, including substantial fines and the potential for platform-wide obligations to verify ages, could become a template for others or a cautionary tale depending on the outcome in court and the effectiveness of enforcement.
The under-16 ban took effect on December 10 and applies to both apps and websites operating in Australia. The government has not released full details of its enforcement playbook but has emphasized cooperation with platforms and ongoing reviews of which services are covered. Reddit maintains it is primarily an adult-oriented forum that is not driven by engagement algorithms, setting it apart from social feeds that rely heavily on recommendation engines.
For now, the standoff pits a marquee internet platform against a first-of-its-kind national policy. How the courts interpret Australia’s authority to impose age limits — and how companies can verify user ages without sweeping up new troves of personal information — will shape the next phase of online safety regulation worldwide.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
