Popular U.S. community forum Reddit has launched a legal challenge against Australia's ban on social media use for individuals under 16, arguing the newly enacted law is invalid and oversteps in restricting online political discussions.
The Canberra-imposed ban, effective Wednesday, targets 10 major platforms including Alphabet's YouTube, Meta's Instagram, Reddit, Snapchat, and Elon Musk's X. All affected platforms have agreed to comply with the policy to varying degrees.
Under the law, targeted platforms must implement "reasonable measures" to prevent underage access, using age verification methods such as inferring from online activity, facial estimation via selfies, ID uploads, or linked banking details.
Reddit has petitioned Australia's High Court to either invalidate the law or exempt the platform from its provisions.
In a statement, Reddit acknowledged the importance of protecting users under 16 but warned the law could deny teens "age-appropriate community experiences, including political discussions." The platform argued it shouldn't be covered by the legislation, positioning itself as an adult-oriented forum focused on "knowledge sharing" rather than a traditional social network, as it doesn't import contact lists or address books.
"Reddit differs significantly from sites allowing users to 'friend' each other, post personal photos, or organize events," the company stated in its filing.
Reddit emphasized its challenge isn't about evading regulations or retaining young users for commercial gain, stating: "More targeted, privacy-protective measures exist to safeguard youth online without resorting to blanket bans."
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