High Court to Hear Challenge Against Australia's Under-16 Social Media Ban

Australia's High Court will begin hearing a legal challenge to the nation's world-first social media ban for under-16s, brought by a rights group arguing the law infringes on young people's right to free communication. The case, initiated by Digital Rights Watch, contends that the ban, which requires platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to prevent minors from creating accounts, is unconstitutional and disproportionate. The law, passed in late 2024, imposes fines of up to AU$50 million on companies that fail to enforce age restrictions. Supporters say it protects children from online harms, but critics argue it isolates vulnerable teens and pushes them to unregulated corners of the internet. The High Court's decision, expected within months, could set a global precedent for digital age verification and children's online rights.