Reddit Challenges Australia's Under-16 Social Media Ban

Reddit Inc., the California-based online forum, filed a legal challenge on Friday in Australia's High Court against the country's new law prohibiting children under 16 from holding accounts on major social media platforms. The suit, the second of its kind targeting the legislation, argues that the measure violates the nation's implied constitutional freedom of political communication and raises significant privacy concerns.

The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 took effect on Wednesday, making Australia the first country to enforce such a nationwide age restriction. It requires platforms including Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube, Twitch, Threads and Kick to take reasonable steps to prevent underage users from accessing their services. Noncompliance could result in fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, or about 32.9 million U.S. dollars. Underage users and their parents face no penalties.

Reddit's filing, signed by lawyers Perry Herzfeld and Jackson Wherrett, names the Commonwealth of Australia and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland as defendants. The company contends that the law burdens political discourse by...