Sydney : A 15 year old Australian student has taken legal action against the federal government’s decision to ban social media use for people under the age of 16. The new law is set to come into effect on December 10 and will block teenagers from using major platforms including Instagram TikTok Snapchat and YouTube accounts.
The teenager Noah Jones argues that the law will make the internet less safe. He says that forcing young people offline could isolate them from friends and support networks and may encourage them to use unregulated platforms or lie about their age to bypass restrictions. Another 15 year old student Macy Neyland has also joined the case.
The challenge has been filed with the High Court of Australia and the Australian Human Rights Commission is considering whether to formally intervene. Supporters of the lawsuit say that the ban violates rights to communication education and social participation and should instead be replaced with stronger safety tools and parental controls.
The government introduced the ban in an effort to protect young people from online bullying harmful content and predatory behavior. Technology companies are now preparing to follow the new rules by expanding age verification systems and closing existing accounts owned by users under 16.
Some experts believe the law may be difficult to enforce and could cause unintended consequences. They warn that teens may turn to smaller unregulated platforms making it harder for parents and authorities to monitor online risks.
As the deadline approaches many young Australians are shifting to new apps or using platforms anonymously. Meanwhile the outcome of the High Court decision is expected to shape how technology regulation and child safety policies develop in Australia and possibly in other countries watching the case.
For now teenagers parents tech companies and policymakers remain divided as the nation waits to see whether the law will move forward or be paused by the court.