Reddit Files Lawsuit Against Australia for Social Media Ban

Shortly after Australia’s controversial under-16 social media ban went into effect, Reddit filed a lawsuit against the country. The US company challenges the regulation for blocking free political communications.

The case to the country’s High Court also disputes Reddit being classified as an age-restricted social media platform. It argues it should be exempt as it doesn’t meet the definition of social media. Reddit claims its platform is a forum primarily for adults without traditional social media features.

Australia’s health minister, Mark Butler, reportedly declared the action by Reddit was to protect the profits that they make at the expense of the mental health of young people. He compared the action to Big Tobacco’s fight against tobacco controls, adding that the country would defend the legal challenges every step of the way.

Last month, two teenagers filed a legal challenge against the social media curbs backed by the Digital Freedom Project. From last week, Twitch, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and YouTube are required to take reasonable steps to prevent children under the age of 16 from having accounts.