Reddit is urging Australia’s High Court to overturn the country’s new law banning children under 16 from using social media — or to exempt Reddit entirely by ruling that it does not meet the legal definition of a social media platform.
In a filing submitted on December 12, the company argued that the law, which took effect on December 10, unlawfully restricts political speech by preventing teenagers from participating in online discussions.
Reddit claims the legislation also imposes broad and invasive age-verification requirements that could compromise users’ privacy.
Central to Reddit’s argument is its claim that the platform functions as “a collection of public forums organized by topic” rather than a service primarily designed for interpersonal social interaction. The company told the court that its core purpose is facilitating knowledge-sharing and public discourse — not enabling friendships, photo-sharing, or personal connections.
“It is not the sole or significant purpose of Reddit to enable persons to interact in a social manner,” the filing states. “Reddit is significantly different from sites that allow users to become friends, post about themselves, or organize events.”
The new law requires ten major online services to disable existing accounts belonging to users under 16 and to block minors from accessing their platforms. Critics say the measure infringes on children’s speech rights and creates an inconsistent and unclear definition of what counts as a social network.
In a public post accompanying the lawsuit, Reddit administrator LastBluejay warned that the law would force intrusive identity checks on both adults and minors, while also isolating teenagers from educational, community-based, and political discussions.
The company also noted that much online content is accessible without an account, arguing that allowing teens controlled and monitored access would offer stronger protection than pushing them into unregulated browsing.
