Australian Teenager Challenges Social Media Ban, Says Internet Will Be Less Safe
December 2, 2025, 01:54 – A 15-year-old Australian student is challenging a new government ban on social media access for those under 16, arguing the measure will inadvertently make the internet more perilous for young people and is likely to be widely ignored.
Noah Jones is a co-plaintiff in a High Court case against Communications minister Anika Wells and e-Security Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. The law, scheduled to take effect on December 10th, aims to restrict minors’ access to platforms including Meta‘s Instagram, TikTok, and snap’s Snapchat, with the government stating the ban is intended to protect children from harmful content and online predators.
Jones contends the policy will isolate teenagers and drive them towards riskier online behaviors. “We should cut out the bad parts of social media,” he told Reuters from his home in Sydney. “When kids do things in secret,that’s when things can be really harmful.”
Jones believes social media is a vital tool for connection and idea-sharing, describing it as a “modern town square.” He noted, “Almost everyone in my year is on Snapchat. It’s a light-hearted way to stay in touch. Most people stay away from each other.”
He further warned the ban woudl create a “social divide” between those who find ways to bypass the restrictions and those who do not. “It is very likely that I will circumvent the ban. I no manny of my friends will,” Jones stated. He believes parents, rather than the government, should be responsible for guiding their children’s social media use.
The lawsuit, which also includes another 15-year-old student, asserts the ban infringes upon constitutional rights and advocates for a shift towards targeted measures addressing cyberbullying and predatory behavior. The plaintiffs are supported by an advocacy group lead by a member of the New South Wales state parliament affiliated with the Libertarian party.
Minister Wells has affirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the law despite the legal challenge. The communications minister and e-security commissioner were not promptly available for comment. A hearing date for the case has not yet been set.
