Reddit Takes Legal Aim at Australia’s Social Media Ban
13th Dec. 2025
On Friday, Reddit has filed a lawsuit in Australia’s High Court, seeking to overturn the nation’s world-first social media ban for children under 16. While submitting its case, the San Francisco-based platform claims that the ban violates free political debate and might result in a long legal struggle. The filing, lodged just two days after the ban came into effect, also names the Commonwealth of Australia and Communications Minister Anika Wells as defendants. Reddit claims, “the law should be declared invalid because it interferes with the free political communication implied by Australia’s constitution.”
Moreover, the company contends that even if the ban is upheld, Reddit should be exempt, as it does not meet the legal definition of a social media platform. This challenge follows a similar lawsuit initiated last month by two teenagers that represents an Australian libertarian group. However, Reddit’s involvement, as a Silicon Valley firm with a market capitalization of $44 billion, significantly increases the resources available for a drawn-out court battle. In the meantime, Analysts also suggest that if Reddit won this battle, then it would encourage other platforms to mount comparable legal challenges.
Australian Government Defends Ban Amid Privacy Risk
Australian officials have strongly rejected the lawsuit. A spokesperson for Communications Minister Anika Wells stated that the government is “on the side of Australian parents and kids, not platforms.” He further added, “We’ll stand strongly to protect young Australians from experiencing harm on social media.” Health Minister Mark Butler added that Reddit’s lawsuit aims to protect profits rather than the political rights of young people. He likened the legal action to historical challenges by Big Tobacco against public health regulations. He said, “We will fight this action every step of the way”.
Australia’s age-based restriction, which came into effect on December 10, is the first legally enforced minimum age for social media access globally. Platforms, including Meta’s Instagram, Alphabet’s Google, YouTube, and TikTok, campaigned against the measure for over a year before eventually agreeing to the government’s decision. Companies are instructed to either block underage users or pay a fine of up to AUS $49.5 million. Nonetheless, young users under-16 and their guardians would not face any penalties.
Reddit highlighted that the ban raises significant privacy and political expression concerns. In its 12-page court filing, the company warned that preventing under-16s from engaging online may ultimately hinder political discourse. “Australian citizens under the age of 16 will, within years if not months, become electors. The choices to be made by those citizens will be informed by political communication in which they engage before the age of 18,” the filing states. As a result, observers expect the case to spark a broader debate about how to balance child safety, privacy, and freedom of expression in the digital age.
Web Resources on the Reuters lawsuit against Australia
1. Reddit.com: Reddit sues Australia over social media ban, citing free speech threat
2. BBC.com: Reddit launches High Court challenge to Australia’s social media ban for kids
3. TheGuardian.com: Reddit launches high court challenge to Australia’s under-16s social media ban
4. AcademicBlock.com: Meta Removes Under-16 Users ahead of Australia Ban