Reddit has taken the Australian government to the High Court after the country introduced a new law banning children under 16 from using most major social media platforms. The rule, known as the Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA) law, applies to Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube, Twitch, Threads, and Kick. These platforms must remove underage accounts or face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, which equals about 32.9 million US dollars.
The government under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the law is meant to protect young people from harm online. The rule requires platforms to take reasonable steps to remove accounts belonging to users under the age of 16. It also forces companies to verify ages through official documents, facial analysis by third-party services, or by estimating age using existing user data.
Reddit is the second party to challenge the law. A Sydney-based group, the Digital Freedom Project, has already filed a case on behalf of two 15-year-olds. Both challenges argue that the SMMA law is unconstitutional because it restricts Australia’s implied freedom of political communication. A preliminary hearing is planned for late February to set dates for the Digital Freedom Project’s case, and it is still unclear whether both challenges will be heard together.
Reddit Cites Privacy Fears and Impact on Teen Participation
Reddit issued a public statement saying it shares the government’s goal of protecting youth but believes the SMMA law raises serious concerns. It argues that the legislation forces intrusive and potentially insecure age-verification processes on adults and minors. The platform warns that collecting sensitive data could create new risks for users.
Reddit also says the law prevents teenagers from joining age-appropriate online communities, including those where political issues are discussed. It believes this limits teen participation in public conversations and blocks safe spaces where young people learn and interact.
The company describes the law as an “illogical patchwork,” because many similar services are not covered. Some apps—including Messenger, WhatsApp, Discord, Roblox, WeChat, RedNote, and LINE—are exempt from the age ban. These services also allow communication, messaging, or community interaction but do not face the same requirements or penalties.
Reddit says its challenge is not driven by business interests. It does not market to anyone under 18, and users under 16 do not make up a significant part of its platform. Even while challenging the law, Reddit says it will comply with all requirements and continue to work with Australia’s eSafety Office.
Government Stands Firm as eSafety Steps Up Oversight
The Australian government has declined to comment on the legal case but insists it will continue enforcing the new rules. It states that it is committed to protecting young Australians from harm and will not back down in its efforts. Officials say the Albanese government is focused on supporting parents and children rather than social media platforms.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has already sent compulsory information notices to the 10 affected platforms. Each company must report how many underage accounts it has removed since the law took effect. They must also show what actions they are taking to meet the SMMA requirements. The eSafety Office plans to issue these notices every six months to track compliance.
Court filings show that Reddit will ask the High Court to invalidate the law or remove Reddit from the list of age-restricted platforms. For now, the legal process continues as both sides prepare for the next court steps.