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Teens Seek High Court Injunction Against Australia’s Under‑16 Social Media Ban as Start Date Nears

The case contends the law unjustifiably burdens teens’ political communication, with officials still setting enforcement for 10 December.

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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

Overview

  • Digital Freedom Project filed proceedings naming 15-year-olds Noah Jones and Macy Neyland and is seeking an urgent injunction or invalidation of the minimum‑age provisions, with the federal government, Communications Minister Anika Wells and the eSafety commissioner listed as respondents.
  • The law, passed in November 2024, requires platforms to remove users under 16 from services including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, X, Reddit, Twitch and Kick from 10 December or face fines up to A$49.5 million.
  • Communications Minister Anika Wells says the government will proceed on schedule, and the High Court is expected to consider whether to hear the case and any interim relief in early December, with no restraining order announced to date.
  • eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant warned under‑16 accounts will not vanish instantly and said implementation will vary by platform, with gradual compliance and reporting expected on deactivations before any penalties are pursued.
  • Platforms have begun preparations, with Meta notifying or deactivating suspected under‑16 accounts and Snap outlining age checks using ConnectID, government ID or facial age estimation, while plaintiffs argue the blanket ban is grossly excessive and logged‑out access is no substitute for participation.