5 Million Accounts Closed in Australia: Law Banning Social Media Access for Minors Challenged in Court

The High Court of Australia has commenced hearings on two constitutional challenges regarding a law that prohibits children under the age of 16 from registering and maintaining accounts on social media platforms. The lawsuits were filed by the American online platform Reddit and the Sydney-based human rights group Digital Freedom Project.

The plaintiffs contend that the restrictions, which took effect last year, violate children's right to freedom of political communication as guaranteed by the Australian Constitution. They argue that the ban is overly broad, un-targeted, and that platforms like Reddit should never have been included in the age-restricted list.

In response, legal representatives for the Australian government asserted in court that the law is essential to protect teenagers' developing brains and mental health. Government lawyer Joanna Davidson emphasized that the algorithms and design features of social media platforms pose seven key risks to children, including:

• Addiction and sleep disruption;

• Depressive states and anxiety;

• Suicidal thoughts;

• Eating disorders and the aggravation of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) symptoms.

Another government lawyer, Stephen Lloyd, stated that the burden imposed by the ban on freedom of political communication is indirect and minor in scale.

Under the enacted legislation, platforms are required to delete accounts belonging to users under 16. Non-compliant companies face potential fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately 34.5 million USD). Official data released since last December indicates that nearly 5 million social media accounts have already been shut down across the country.

However  government officials conceded that the ban has been less effective than anticipated. Privacy protections prohibit platforms from demanding identity documents from users, enabling teenagers to easily bypass age-verification technologies.

The High Court's panel of seven judges is expected to issue a verdict in several months. The court will weigh whether the potential harm caused by restricting children's political communication outweighs the damage inflicted by social media platforms.