Fifteen-year-old Noah Jones from Sydney has filed a lawsuit against the Australian government, challenging a new law that bans minors under 16 from using social media sites like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat from December 10. The case has been filed in the High Court against Communications Minister Annika Wells and Online Safety Commissioner Julie Iniman Grant, News.bg reports.
The authorities say the measure is designed to protect children from harmful content and online risks. But Jones argues that the ban will backfire, isolating teenagers, encouraging them to engage in riskier behavior and creating a "double society" where some kids can get around the restrictions and others can't.
"We need to eliminate the bad things about social media, not the social media itself," Jones told Reuters. "When kids do something secretly, that's when it really gets dangerous."
The youngster likens the platforms to a "modern-day plaza" where young people share ideas and stay connected: "I have almost everyone in my class on Snapchat. It's an easy way to stay connected. If they ban it, a lot of people will feel disconnected."
Jones stresses that parents, not the government, should be determining children's online habits. He admits that he and his friends "will probably find a way around the ban," which he says proves the law is ineffective.
The lawsuit, filed by Jones and another 15-year-old student, claims the law violates constitutional rights and should be replaced with more targeted measures against cyberbullying and online predators. The case is being supported by a civil society group led by a New South Wales Libertarian Party MP.
Minister Annika Wells has already said the government stands firmly behind the law, despite the legal challenges. No date has yet been set for the first hearing.