Aussie Teens Take Social Media Ban to the High Court
Two 15-year-olds have become the face of a major challenge to Australia’s upcoming ban on social media accounts for anyone under 16, arguing that the law cuts young people out of key spaces for communication and community.
Noah Jones and Macy Neyland, backed by the advocacy group Digital Freedom Project (DFP), filed their case in the High Court just weeks before the ban is due to start on 10th December. Under the ban, platforms including Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook and X will be required to shut down more than a million under-16 accounts across the country.
The DFP says the ban strips kids of a core democratic right, pointing to the Constitution’s implied protection of political communication. In the group’s words, the law “robs” young people of that freedom and goes far beyond what’s needed to keep kids safe online.
Both teens say the policy goes too far. Noah argues the government has taken the easy way out, saying young people are “the true digital natives” and need tools to navigate social media spaces safely, not total exclusion from them. Macy says the ban would block her generation from sharing its views, adding: "We shouldn't be silenced. It's like Orwell's book 1984, and that scares me."
DFP, led by NSW parliamentarian John Ruddick, says there are less heavy-handed solutions—like stronger safety features, digital literacy programs, and age-assurance tech that protects privacy. People warn that the ban could isolate kids who rely on online spaces, particularly young people in remote areas, those with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ teens, and First Nations youth.
The federal government, however, is not backing down. Communications Minister Anika Wells told parliament: "We will not be intimidated by threats. We will not be intimidated by legal challenges. We will not be intimidated by big tech." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed that the ban is aimed at ensuring “kids have a childhood,” saying it won’t be perfect but that it is worth trying.
The plan has broad public support, though some experts have cautioned that it may push kids toward less-regulated corners of the internet. Several tech companies—including YouTube—have reportedly considered their own legal challenges, arguing that the ban restricts political speech.
With the December deadline approaching, the High Court case is shaping up to be a major test of how far Australia can go in policing minors’ online access—and what rights young people hold in the digital age.
