# Reddit challenges Australia's teen social media ban in court

> Reddit argues the government's ban on under-16s using social media is overly broad and restricts political communication, as the court hears the law targets addictive features.
- Title: Reddit challenges Australia's teen social media ban in court
- Summary: Reddit argues the government's ban on under-16s using social media is overly broad and restricts political communication, as the court hears the law targets…
- Keywords: reddit, australia, social media ban, under-16s, high court, political communication, albanese government, the Guardian
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/nov/04/teen-social-media-ban-burden-freedom-of-political-communication-reddit
- Published: 2026-11-04T04:47:01+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: reddit, australia, social media ban, under-16s, high court, political communication, albanese government, news, politics
## Ten platforms face the ban
Australia's social media ban covers Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Kick, X, Twitch and Threads. The ban targets under-sixteens.
## Reddit challenges the law in court
Reddit is challenging the Albanese government's ban in high court on Tuesday, arguing the legislation is ill-thought-out and over-broad. Reddit says it impinges the implied freedom of political communication for under-sixteens.

> ill-thought-out, over-broad legislation
## Government says it targets addictive features
The government argues the ban targets design features that keep people engaged, such as endless scroll, likes, comments, personalised recommendations and push notifications.
## Government barrister defends the approach
Government barrister Stephen Lloyd SC told the court the ban is not a blunt instrument but designed to minimise adverse effects of addictive features.

> not a blunt instrument but … designed to minimise the adverse effects of these features
## Five million accounts suspended since December
Since the ban came into effect in December last year, more than five million user accounts the platforms understand belong to people aged under sixteen across ten platforms have been suspended or deactivated.
## Reddit argues for alternative approach
Reddit's barrister Perry Herzfeld SC said platforms should be able to remove harmful features for teen accounts without banning them entirely.
## High court reserves its decision
The high court has reserved its decision on Reddit's challenge. The outcome will determine whether Australia's social media ban can continue as currently written.
## Key takeaway

Reddit is challenging Australia's social media ban in high court, arguing it is overly broad and restricts under-sixteens' political communication rights.