Two Australian teenagers have initiated a landmark legal battle to stop their government from implementing a pioneering law that would ban children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms.
A Constitutional Challenge
The legal proceedings were filed in Australia's High Court by the campaign group The Digital Freedom Project. The plaintiffs are two 15-year-olds, Noah Jones and Macy Neyland, who argue the legislation violates their rights.
The case comes just two weeks before the law is scheduled to take effect on 10 December 2025. This groundbreaking legislation, the first of its kind globally, would lead to the deactivation of more than one million accounts held by Australian teenagers on platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram.
Freedom of Speech at Stake
The core of the legal argument centres on an implied constitutional right. The Digital Freedom Project contends that the ban "robs" young people of their freedom of political communication. In a public statement, the group labelled the legislation as "grossly excessive."
Plaintiff Macy Neyland expressed her strong opposition, stating the law would prevent young people from sharing their views online. "Young people like me are the voters of tomorrow... we shouldn't be silenced. It's like Orwell's book 1984, and that scares me," she said.
Government and Industry Response
In response to the legal challenge, Australia's Communications Minister, Anika Wells, remained defiant. She asserted that the centre-left government led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would not be deterred by legal threats from parties with "ulterior motives."
"The Albanese Labor government remains steadfastly on the side of parents, and not of platforms," Ms Wells declared. The government's position is supported by research indicating that social media overuse harms teens through misinformation, cyberbullying, and negative body image portrayals.
Australian media has also reported that YouTube is considering its own legal challenge, arguing the ban stifles political discourse. The outcome of this case is being closely monitored by governments and technology companies worldwide, as it represents one of the most comprehensive efforts to regulate minors' access to social media.
The law was passed in November 2024 and enjoys majority public support in Australia according to opinion polls. Companies that fail to comply with the ban risk severe penalties of up to A$49.5 million (£24.4 million).
