High Court hears challenge to under-16s social media ban
Australia's High Court is weighing whether the ban breaks children's right to political expression and communication.
The High Court began hearings this week. The hearings cover two legal challenges to the law that blocked under-16s from 10 social media platforms in December 2025.
The Digital Freedom Project and US platform Reddit both argue the ban goes too far. Reddit says it also breaks privacy rights and wrongly included the site in the ban.
The government defended the law at the time, saying protecting children from harm came first. Associate Professor Noam Peleg told AAP the key question is whether Australians' constitutional right to political communication extends to children and online platforms.
If yes, the next test is whether the ban is proportionate. Research from June suggested about 80 per cent of under-16s are still using social media despite the ban.
This challenges how well it works.
- 10
- Platforms blocked
- December 2025
- Ban effective date
- 80 per cent
- Under-16s still using social media
- 142 out of 194 countries
- Australia's KidsRights ranking
Why it mattersThe court's ruling will change how Australia regulates children's access to digital platforms. It will also shape what rights young people have to participate in public debate.
AustraliaMillions of Australian teenagers face potential access restrictions. A court win for the challengers could undo the ban; a loss strengthens it and sets a precedent for similar laws elsewhere.
Corroborated bytheguardian.com
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
