The High Court of Australia began hearing two challenges to the country’s under-16 social media account law on Nov. 3, putting its child-protection aims and effects on political speech before the nation’s top court.
The Canberra hearings concern separate cases brought by Reddit, Inc. and Digital Freedom Project Incorporated. Reddit filed its case on Dec. 12, 2025, and Digital Freedom Project filed on Nov. 27, 2025.
Reddit says the rules interfere with political communication and are not suited to their stated purpose. The company says most of its posts can be read without signing in and that its service does not connect users through friend relationships. It is asking the court to assess the validity of the law, rather than review the eSafety Commissioner’s decision to classify Reddit as a covered platform.
Reuters reported that Reddit lawyer Perry Herzfeld called the measure “inept” and described it as “a very profound restriction on political debate in Australia.”
The Commonwealth, Australia’s federal government, says recommendations, continuous scrolling, repeated alerts and likes can expose children to credible risks. Its court filings argue that platforms gain financially when people spend more time on their services, helping support advertising revenue. Those are the government’s claims in the case, not findings by the court.
The restrictions took effect Dec. 10, 2025. Covered platform providers must take reasonable steps to prevent Australian children under 16 from holding accounts; children and their parents or carers are not penalized for a child’s access. Corporations that fail to take reasonable steps may face court-imposed penalties of up to A$109.2 million.
An evaluation by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner involved more than 4,000 children and included parent or carer input. In its March-April 2026 follow-up, 42% of children ages 10 to 15 reported an account on at least one restricted platform, down from about 52% before the rules. More than 81% said they still used such a platform. eSafety said that use could include shared accounts or features available without signing in, so it does not by itself show that a child held an account in breach of the rules.
The court has listed another hearing day for Nov. 4, but its docket gives no date for a decision. Separately, the minister must initiate an independent review within two years of the restrictions taking effect.
