Social media ban needed to protect children's brains

Australia, Nov. 5: Government lawyers told Australia's highest court on Wednesday that a world-first ban on children younger than 16 from holding social media accounts was necessary to protect developing brains. The Australian government is fighting in the High Court two constitutional challenges to the ban that took effect last year on young children holding accounts on Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube and Twitch.

Government lawyer Joanna Davidson on Wednesday continued to outline seven risks to children she argued were posed by social media platform design features. The risks were addictive use, adverse sleep effects, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, exacerbation of disordered eating, and intensification of ADHD symptoms, Davidson said. The challengers argue the ban deprives young children of a right to freedom of political communication implied in Australia's constitution.

The seven judges must decide whether the harm done by limiting children's political engagement outweighs the harm done by social media platforms.