Social media platform Reddit filed a lawsuit challenging Australia’s social media restriction for children under 16, arguing it violates their right to freedom of political communication.

Reddit described the ban as “poorly designed and ineffective” in its argument before Australia’s High Court on Tuesday, as hearings continue through to Wednesday.

The platform claimed the ban did not stop children from viewing and scrolling posts on social media, only that it limited them from participating in political discussions because8⁸ they can’t own accounts to comment.

The government countered that premature access to social media was highly addictive and could harm children’s mental acuity.

The suit, filed by Reddit and Digital Freedom Project, a digital rights advocacy group, argued that insufficient evidence showed social media harmed children’s intellectual development.

The Australian government in 2025 approved social media restrictions for children under 16 years, which banned them from owning accounts on Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitch, YouTube and so on.

Since the ban became effective, almost 5 million accounts have been deactivated.
The hearing continues on Wednesday.