Australia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s faces its first major legal test in the High Court, almost one year after taking effect.
asserted
ban → face → effect
The challenge was brought on Tuesday by online platform Reddit and Australian advocacy group Digital Freedom Project.
asserted
challenge → bring → Reddit
Recommended Stories
list of 3 items- list 1 of 3Meta’s $18bn settlement: How social platforms will change for child users
- list 2 of 3Australia seeks big tech support for internet safety, AI regulation
- list 3 of 3Greece joins push to ban social media for minors
asserted
platforms → change → minors
Reddit has highlighted a number of issues in its written submission to the court, pointing to problems enforcing the ban and a lack of scientific evidence about the harms of social media.
“The evidence so far is that the effectiveness of the ban has been limited,” Reddit’s submission reads.
asserted
submission → highlight → ban
Social media companies were forced to delete millions of accounts after Australia banned those aged below 16 from the likes of Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Reddit last December.
asserted
Australia → force → Facebook
The platforms are responsible for identifying and deleting the accounts of underage users, and face hefty fines if they are found in breach of their obligations.
asserted
they → identify → obligations
Reddit argued this approach was actually more dangerous, as registered accounts were governed by in-built safety features.
asserted
accounts → argue → features
Material posted on many online platforms and social media sites could still be accessed without an account, Reddit said.
uncertain
Reddit → post → account
“Young people using other platforms without an account are also unable to be protected from exposure to particular harmful content as they previously had been,” its submission read.
asserted
submission → use → content
Australia said its restrictions would protect young users from graphic content and online predators.
asserted
restrictions → say → content
While there is a growing body of evidence about the harms of social media, Reddit argued there was no “scientific consensus”.
asserted
Reddit → be → media
A team of Australia-based researchers published a study in August that found little evidence to suggest teenagers have stopped using social media despite the ban.
asserted
teenagers → base → ban
Digital Freedom Project, led by New South Wales politician John Ruddick, believes the ban is unconstitutional because it restricts teenagers’ ability to take part in political discourse.
asserted
it → lead → discourse
“Social media is an important means of accessing news and engaging in political communication for young Australians, including children under 16,” the advocacy group argued in written submissions.
“The restriction also risks removing beneficial sources of connection, support and participation,” it added.
asserted
it → access → connection
Digital Freedom Project, according to its website, comprises a group of Australians who are concerned about increasing government intervention and censorship in the digital space.
uncertain
who → accord → space
Reddit and the Digital Freedom Project separately announced last year they would challenge the ban.
asserted
they → announce → ban
It was unclear how long the court would take to consider the case.
uncertain
court → take → case
The Australian government has stepped up online and social media restrictions to protect young people from pressures and risks they could be exposed to while logged in to social media accounts, according to the online regulator, eSafety Commissioner.
uncertain
they → step → regulator
The government has also proposed opt-out laws which would force social media companies to give users the choice to turn off their algorithm.
asserted
which → propose → algorithm
Meta and its social media platforms Facebook and Instagram are facing a class action lawsuit in Australia over allegations that addictive design features are harming children and teenagers.
asserted
features → face → children
The class action suit was filed on behalf of eight plaintiffs who allege they were harmed by Meta while they were below the age of 18.
asserted
they → file → 18
The Aporia
