The digital platform Reddit has filed a recourse with the High Court of Australia to challenge the ban that prevents people under 16 from using social media, a measure considered the first of its kind worldwide. In the legal presentation made this Friday, the company argued that the restrictions are being incorrectly applied to its service, emphasizing that Reddit functions mainly as an adult-oriented forum and not as a traditional social network with the features questioned by the Australian government. Reddit stated that it will comply with current regulations but warned that the law has the «unfortunate effect» of imposing intrusive and potentially unsafe verification processes that affect both adults and minors. The company also maintained that the measure is ineffective and that minors under 16 may be better protected from online risks if they have their own account with active security settings. «Despite the best intentions, this law is not really protecting young people online. Therefore, although we will comply with it, we have the responsibility to express our perspective and ensure that it is reviewed by the courts,» the platform stated in a press release. Reddit is part of the group of 10 platforms affected by the ban, which came into effect on Wednesday. The legislation obliges companies to adopt reasonable measures to prevent users under 16 from creating or accessing accounts.
