![Australia social media ban reaches High Court](https://cdn.slatesource.com/8/6/3/863ffe5a-5888-45b7-b8bf-16dce0f27731.webp) # Australia social media ban reaches High Court - [Made in Slatesource](https://slatesource.com/@steph/australia-social-media-ban-reaches-high-court) - By [Steph](https://slatesource.com/@steph) - Created on Nov 2, 2026 Accounts blocked since Dec 2025 ~5 million Platforms covered by the ban 10 Fine for failing to comply A$49.5 million Fine for serious or repeated breach A$99 million Ban took effect 10 December 2025 Cases joined 2 (DFP + Reddit) [abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-03/high-court-challenge-to-under-16s-social-media-ban/107336886?utm_source=slatesource) ## The two sides in court Point Challengers (Reddit + DFP) Commonwealth Constitutional ground Implied freedom of political communication is burdened Burden is indirect, modest and justified Scope of the freedom Applies to under-16s forming political views before they vote Applies only to electors; burden on non-voters is indirect Science "Uncertain science cannot justify the ban" Credible causal pathways link social media to mental health harm Alternatives Parental consent, duty-of-care, design-safety rules Digital duty-of-care bill would require same steps regardless Practical effect 80% of under-16s still using social media; ban does not work Compliance investigations under way; enforcement continues Reddit's extra claim Reddit is not a "sole purpose" social interaction platform; should be reclassified Law appropriately covers Reddit's social features [capitalbrief.com](https://www.capitalbrief.com/article/reddit-argues-uncertain-science-cant-justify-social-media-ban-a131b18b-6362-40a6-9e88-f945736d6c5e/?utm_source=slatesource) Australia social media ban: case timeline01.11.2024 – 04.11.2026 01.11.2024Online Safety Amendment Act passes parliament 01.11.2024 27.11.2025Digital Freedom Project files High Court challenge (S163/2025) 27.11.2025 10.12.2025Ban takes effect; platforms block accounts 10.12.2025 12.12.2025Reddit files its own challenge (S166/2025) 12.12.2025 29.07.2026Both cases referred to the Full Court 29.07.2026 14.08.2026Cases joined into a single special case 14.08.2026 03.11.2026Two-day oral hearing begins, Canberra 03.11.2026 04.11.2026Oral hearing concludes; decision reserved 04.11.2026 Pending -- no date set [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Digital_Freedom_Project_Incorporated_v._Commonwealth?utm_source=slatesource) > Private messaging on WhatsApp or a game, conversations at the dinner table and reading news media cannot replace active communication on social media, because they cannot generate the type of attention most likely to sway public opinion. > > — capitalbrief.com ## What is known • The hearing is a two-day Full Court sitting on 3-4 November 2026 in Canberra. • The sole constitutional ground is the implied freedom of political communication, which flows from sections 7 and 24 of the Australian Constitution (requirement that parliament be "directly chosen by the people"). • All state and territory attorneys-general have filed in support of the Commonwealth. • The US Electronic Frontier Foundation and NetChoice filed intervener submissions noting Australian doctrine differs from US First Amendment tiers of scrutiny. • Reddit is separately arguing it should not be classified as an "age-restricted social media platform" at all, on the grounds its core purpose is knowledge sharing rather than social interaction. • Nearly 5 million accounts were blocked after the ban took effect in December 2025; Meta alone closed about 500,000 accounts in its first days. Research from June 2026 suggested up to 80% of under-16s were still accessing platforms. ## What is not known yet • Whether the High Court will rule the ban unconstitutional, uphold it, or find it valid with possible legislative tweaks. • How long the Full Court will take to hand down its decision; no date has been given. • Whether Reddit's secondary argument -- that it falls outside the statutory definition -- will be decided on the same timeline or separately. • Whether the eSafety Commissioner will issue fines to Meta, TikTok, Snap or YouTube while the case is pending. What happens next 20% Two days of oral argument (3-4 Nov 2026) High Court reserves decision (date not set) eSafety Commissioner compliance investigations conclude for Meta, TikTok, Snap, YouTube If ban upheld: enforcement and potential first fines If ban struck down: government must decide whether to amend or drop the law [abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-03/high-court-challenge-to-under-16s-social-media-ban/107336886?utm_source=slatesource) [ABC News -- High Court challenge overview](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-03/high-court-challenge-to-under-16s-social-media-ban/107336886?utm_source=slatesource) [Capital Brief -- Reddit's constitutional arguments](https://www.capitalbrief.com/article/reddit-argues-uncertain-science-cant-justify-social-media-ban-a131b18b-6362-40a6-9e88-f945736d6c5e/?utm_source=slatesource) [Wikipedia -- case summary and documents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Digital_Freedom_Project_Incorporated_v._Commonwealth?utm_source=slatesource) [Gulf News -- international coverage](https://gulfnews.com/world/oceania/internet-rights-group-challenges-australia-under-16-social-media-ban-3-1.500360384?utm_source=slatesource)