Australian government concedes no scientific consensus on social media harms for teenagers – but ‘credible risks’ justify ban
News Source
•Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:00:56 GMT
📰 What Happened
The Australian government admits there is no scientific agreement that social media harms teenagers. But it says the risks are real enough to keep the ban on under-16s.
In a court filing reported on 30 September 2026, it said problems like addiction and anxiety are credible risks. It also said new rules to let people turn off algorithms would have the same effect as the ban.
🔍 The Backstory
Australia brought in a world-first ban on social media for children under 16. The platform Reddit is challenging the ban in the high court.
The government says nearly 5 million accounts were removed in December. Two cases against the ban are expected to be heard together before the end of 2026. The law is one of the strictest in the world.
🎯 Why It Matters
The case decides whether Australia can keep the first under-16 social media ban. It affects millions of teens and their families.
The Australian government admits there is no scientific agreement that social media harms teenagers. But it says the risks are real enough to keep the ban on under-16s.
In a court filing reported on 30 September 2026, it said problems like addiction and anxiety are credible risks. It also said new rules to let people turn off algorithms would have the same effect as the ban.
Australia brought in a world-first ban on social media for children under 16. The platform Reddit is challenging the ban in the high court.
The government says nearly 5 million accounts were removed in December. Two cases against the ban are expected to be heard together before the end of 2026. The law is one of the strictest in the world.
The case decides whether Australia can keep the first under-16 social media ban. It affects millions of teens and their families.