Australia's highest court hears challenges to social media ban for children

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Australia’s highest court on Tuesday began hearing constitutional challenges to the nation’s world-first legislation banning children younger than 16 from popular social media platforms.The seven High Court judges began hearing two challenges to the ban that took effect last year on young children holding accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Kick, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube and Twitch.The first challenge was brought by Sydney-based rights group Digital Freedom Project.They claim the law improperly robs millions of young Australians of a right to freedom of political communication implied in Australia’s constitution.The second challenge comes from U.S. online forum Reddit, which argues the ban raised issues of privacy and political expression. Reddit also argued that it should not have included in the same category as other banned social media platforms.The two-day hearing will end Wednesday.Two Sydney 15-year-olds, Noah Jones and Macy Neyland, had been included as plaintiffs when the Digital Freedom Project case was filed last year. But the pair were removed over concerns they could be held liable for legal costs should the case fail.Noah Jone...