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3h ago

Teens File High Court Challenge to Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban

Officials vow to press ahead on December 10 despite a constitutional claim that the policy burdens political communication.

PENZANCE, UNITED KINGDOM - AUGUST 26: Three teenagers look at their iPhone smart phone screens on August 26, 2025 in Penzance, England. The amount of time children spend on screens each day rocketed during the Covid pandemic by more than 50 per cent, the equivalent of an extra hour and twenty minutes. Researchers say that unmoderated screen time can have long-lasting effects on a child's mental and physical health. Recently TikTok announced that every account belonging to a user below age 18 have a 60-minute daily screen time limit automatically set. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
View of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman
The protocol entrance of the European Parliament is seen at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, March 14, 2019. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler
A high school student poses with his mobile phone showing his social media applications in Melbourne, Australia, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Overview

  • Digital Freedom Project lodged the case on Wednesday with 15-year-olds Noah Jones and Macy Neyland as plaintiffs, arguing the ban is grossly excessive and unconstitutional.
  • The law bars under-16s from accounts on platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, X and YouTube from December 10, with penalties up to A$49.5 million for non-compliance.
  • Communications Minister Anika Wells told Parliament the Albanese government will not be deterred by legal threats or Big Tech and will implement the policy as scheduled.
  • Platforms have begun preparations, with Meta warning and deactivating suspected under-16 accounts and Snapchat outlining age checks, while reports say YouTube/Google have considered a legal challenge.
  • Media estimates suggest more than one million accounts could be affected, and the move is drawing international attention as the European Parliament urges EU-wide age limits for minors online.