Reddit has launched a challenge in Australia's highest court against the nation's landmark social media ban for children.
The online forum is among 10 social media platforms which must bar Australians aged under 16 from having accounts under a new law which began on Wednesday.
The ban, which is being watched closely around the world, was justified by campaigners and the government as necessary to protect children from harmful content and algorithms.
Reddit is complying with the ban, but in its case will argue that the policy has serious implications for privacy and political rights. It is the second such legal challenge, with two Australian teens also awaiting a High Court hearing.
Despite the best intentions, this law is missing the mark, Reddit said in an update on its website.
There are more effective ways for the Australian government to accomplish our shared goal of protecting youth. Australia's Communications Minister Anika Wells has previously said the government will not be swayed by legal threats.
In a related case, two 15-year-olds from New South Wales are claiming the social media ban is unconstitutional, infringing upon the implied freedom of communication on governmental and political matters.
The ban has excited global leaders and worried tech companies, but has also faced criticism for being impractical.
Experts fear kids may circumvent the ban easily, leading to potentially less safe online environments. The policy, however, enjoys popularity among parents and has received backing from prominent figures such as Oprah and Prince Harry.
As the first jurisdiction globally to impose such a restriction without parental exemptions, Australia's law establishes what many see as the strictest regulations on social media access for minors to date.
Reddit's legal challenge underscores a growing tension between safeguarding youth and preserving online freedoms and privacy.
