Reddit has launched a challenge in Australia's highest court against the nation's landmark social media ban for children.
The online forum is among ten social media platforms that must bar Australians aged under 16 from having accounts under a new law that began on Wednesday.
The ban, which is being watched closely around the world, was justified by campaigners and the government as necessary to protect children from harmful content and algorithms.
Reddit is complying with the ban, but in its case will argue that the policy has serious implications for privacy and political rights. It is the second such legal challenge, with two Australian teens also awaiting a High Court hearing.
Despite the best intentions, this law is missing the mark, Reddit stated in an update on its website. There are more effective ways for the Australian government to accomplish our shared goal of protecting youth.
Australia's Communications Minister Anika Wells has previously asserted that the government will not be swayed by legal threats. We will not be intimidated by big tech. On behalf of Australian parents, we will stand firm, she told parliament after news of the first legal challenge broke last month.
In that case, which the High Court has agreed to consider at an undecided date next year, two 15-year-olds from New South Wales are claiming the social media ban is unconstitutional as it infringes the implied freedom of communication on governmental and political matters.
Experts fear that kids will circumvent the ban easily by tricking the age verification technologies or by finding less safe online spaces. The policy has garnered support from certain mental health advocates, who argue that it alienates young people, especially those from marginalized communities.
The law, noted for being the world's strictest, has resulted in varying opinions; some endorse it as necessary for safety, while others criticize it for being impractical. Reddit emphasizes that the law forces intrusive verification processes on both minors and adults, isolating teens from age-appropriate community experiences.
There are more targeted, privacy-preserving measures to protect young people online without resorting to blanket bans, Reddit added, stressing that this legal case is not to evade compliance or retain young users for business reasons.
The other platforms impacted by this ban include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.
