Social Media

Australia Will Enforce a Social Media Ban for Children Under 16 Despite a Court Challenge

A Sydney-based digital rights advocate on Wednesday filed a constitutional challenge against the law, which takes effect on Dec. 10.

Associated Press

Nov 28, 2025 — 2 min read

Photo of a logon screen for Facebook and the new Meta policy as photographed in Sydney, Australia on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, by Rick Rycroft/AP

MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 28, 2025 (AP) — The Australian government said young children will be banned from social media next month as scheduled despite a rights advocacy group on Wednesday challenging the world-first legislation in court.

The Sydney-based Digital Freedom Project said it had filed a constitutional challenge in the High Court on Wednesday to a law due to take effect on Dec. 10 banning Australian children younger than 16 from holding accounts on specified platforms.

Communications Minister Anika Wells referred to the challenge when she later told Parliament her government remained committed to the ban taking effect on schedule.

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Social Media Australia Digital Freedom Project Anika Wells John Ruddick Sam Palmer Meta Facebook Instagram Threads TikTok X (Twitter) Google Malaysia Fahmi Fadzil AP