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New Australian Law Bans Social Media for Children Under 16; Reddit Files High Court Challenge
Reddit: Under Australia's new law, children under 16 are prohibited from using social media. Reddit has challenged this rule in court, calling it unconstitutional. The company stated that the law impacts political expression and privacy.
A ban on social media usage has been introduced for kids under 16 years old in Australia. Children will no longer be able to access social media services such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. It should be noted that it is the first country and global ban on kids under 16 making accounts on any major social site.
A case involving the California-based social networking site Reddit has also been filed against it in the High Court. Prior to this, a rights organization based in Sydney, known as the Digital Freedom Project, had contested the same law. Both argue that it contravenes the freedoms of political expression enshrined within the Australian Constitution.
Reddit issued a statement saying, "The safety of young people is important, but there are better ways to achieve this goal. This SMMA (Social Media Minimum Age) law violates the 'freedom of political expression' guaranteed by the Australian Constitution. We support the safety of children under 16. The age verification methods used are dangerous to the privacy of both children and adults. This process is highly intrusive and will rob teenagers of their ability to participate in online discussions and communities." It is also unclear which platforms this rule will apply to.
The social media ban covers 10 platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, X, and Twitch. They will now be required to ensure that accounts belonging to Australian children under 16 are immediately deleted. Failure to do so could result in fines of up to A$49.5 million.
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As soon as the law came into effect, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant sent notices to all 10 platforms, asking how many minor accounts had been removed so far. She had previously stated that some companies might wait until action was taken and then challenge the law in court. eSafety will send such notices every six months to check whether the platforms are complying with the rules.
Reddit has stated that it will continue to fight the case in court, but will also comply with the rules. The company is demanding that the law be repealed or Reddit be removed from the ban list. The High Court hearing on this matter is expected in late February.
