Reddit launches High Court fight against Australia’s under-16s social media ban

Reddit has recently launched a challenge in Australia’s high court against the country’s new law imposing a ban for children under-16s from having social media accounts.

As reported by BBC, the ban, which is closely monitored around the world, was advocated by campaigners and the government as necessary to safeguard children from content and algorithms.

The recent revelation demonstrated that Reddit is complying with the ban, but in this case will argue that the policy has significant effects for privacy and political rights.

Reddit said in an update on its website, "Despite the best intentions, this law is missing the mark."

"There are more effective ways for the Australian government to accomplish our shared goal of protecting youth," they further added.

Australian teens find loophole in social media age verification

Experts were worried kids are going to bypass the ban with relative ease by manipulating the technology that’s performing the age checks, or by navigating another option which is potentially less safe.

The new policy is immensely popular and has won the support of the Duchess of Sussex.

Following the current ban, various administrations from the US state of Florida to the European Union, have approved limits on children’s use of social media.

Australia is the first country to implement a ban for under-16s, specifically rejecting a policy of consent option in its social media law.

Reddit said that the law forces are "intrusive and potentially insecure verification processes on adults as well as minors."

They further elucidate that the law isolates teens engaged in "age-appropriate community experiences "and creates an "illogical framework of which platforms are included and which aren’t."

Even with its protests, Reddit said the challenge was not an attempt to avoid complying with the law or an effort to engage young users for business reasons.

In addition, the 10 platforms announced by the government as covered by the ban-including Twitch, Kick, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, TikTok-had enacted measures to comply by Wednesday.