12 December 08:01
IT&C knowledge
Ink Drop / Alamy / Profimedia
Reddit filed a lawsuit on Friday against the Australian law that prohibits children under 16 from having accounts on social media platforms. The company argues that the law is unconstitutional, violating the freedom of political communication. Reddit claims that there are more effective ways to protect young people without imposing invasive and unreliable verification processes. Additionally, the law could isolate teenagers from age-appropriate community experiences. The Australian government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has refused to comment, emphasizing its support for parents and children. Social media platforms, including Reddit, face significant fines if they do not comply with the law. Despite the legal challenge, Reddit stated that it will comply with the regulations and cooperate with the authorities. In this context, Australian children are seeking alternatives to the restricted platforms, and applications like Yope and Lemon8 have seen significant increases in downloads.
Sources
Reddit challenges Australia’s new under-16 social media ban in High Court
Reddit files legal challenge to Australia's social media ban
Reddit challenges Australia's world-first law banning children under 16 from social media
Reddit launches High Court challenge to Australia's social media ban for kids
Reddit launches high court challenge to Australia's under-16s social media ban