Suryaa International Desk: The Australian government has defended its law prohibiting children under the age of 16 from opening social media accounts before the High Court. Government lawyers argued that these regulations are necessary to protect the brain development and mental health of children. The arguments were presented before a seven-judge bench during a hearing regarding constitutional challenges filed by the online forum Reddit and the Digital Freedom Project.
Government lawyers stated that social media platforms pose risks to children, including addictive tendencies, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The government rejected the petitioners' claim that the law violates constitutional freedom of political expression. It clarified that children can still view public content without an account and that the regulations are intended solely to control the platforms.
The law mandates that major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Reddit, face heavy fines if they fail to take appropriate measures to prevent users under 16 from accessing their services. The government stated that there are no penalties for children or parents. As various countries express concern regarding digital safety for children, the upcoming ruling by the Australian High Court is expected to have a global impact.