<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW Libertarian MP </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/social-media-ban-nsw-mp-john-ruddick-to-launch-high-court-challenge/09528869-b121-412e-9fe9-3fa2720c54b1" rel="" target="_blank" title="John Ruddick has filed proceedings in the High Court"><span>John Ruddick has filed proceedings in the High Court</span></a><span> to challenge the constitutionality of the federal government's looming </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/social-media-ban-australia-full-list-of-sites-banned-everything-to-know-explained/b19e9d0f-9a6d-49bd-b5c4-c6a33f98fd0e" rel="" target="_blank" title="social media ban"><span>social media ban</span></a><span> for children under 16.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ruddick argues that the world-leading ban will rob 2.6 million young people of their constitutional implied right to freedom of political communication when it comes into effect on December 10. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today, he has filed court action via his organisation, Digital Freedom Project, with 15-year-olds Macy Neyland and Noah Jones as the plaintiffs.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/optus-triple-zero-outage-frankston-and-mornington-peninsula/3bc0233a-c38e-4e1e-aded-0b9661fbe057" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Vandals blamed for Optus outage that hit more than 14,500 customers</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The group claims that the blanket ban is an "unfair and unreasonable trespass into free speech" and "grossly excessive".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Driving us to fake profiles and VPNs is bad safety policy. Bring us into safer spaces, with rules that work: age‑appropriate features, privacy‑first age assurance, and fast takedowns," Neyland said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We shouldn't be silenced. It's like Orwell's book 1984, and that scares me."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/social-media-ban-nsw-mp-john-ruddick-files-high-court-action-challenging-consitutionality/51042b13-e28f-4a32-b523-b32d927032af" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're disappointed in a lazy government that blanket bans under-16s rather than investing in programs to help kids be safe on social media," Jones said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They should protect kids with safeguards, not silence."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ruddick, who earlier this month signalled that the court action would be imminent, said the social media ban should concern every Australian.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/gambling-advertising-spam-text-messages-rules-regulations-betting-companies-how-they-can-message-you-explainer/e4c69943-2fd0-4d3d-8d50-08d44ed6f75a" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>These dangerous texts are flooding millions of Aussies' phones</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This ban is disproportionate and will trespass either directly or indirectly upon the rights of every Australian," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Come December 10, all kids will be banned, and all the rest of us will have to prove our age and potentially provide ID just to access social media.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is not the government's role to parent children, it should be up to families to decide when their children are ready for social media."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ruddick went as far as to label the world-leading ban as "the most draconian legislation of its type".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There is a limited number of sitting days to have the bid mentioned in the High Court ahead of when the rules come into effect in December.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Google is also reportedly preparing to launch a last-ditch legal challenge against YouTube's inclusion in the ban. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/inflation-australia-october-abs/bf7bd95e-cdca-4424-b8a0-903b4be71acb" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Final nail in the coffin for rate cut hopes</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>9news.com.au has contacted Communications Minister Anika Wells for comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian children under 16 are today exactly two weeks away from being kicked off select social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube, Threads, Reddit, Twitch and Kick.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Snapchat has already begun enforcing the age restriction. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Platforms that fail to reasonably apply the restriction face a fine of up to $49.5 million.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The federal government has admitted that the ban was not perfect but would protect children and put the responsibility on social media platforms to do better.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More social media platforms may be added to the ban in the future, with the eSafety Commission saying the list is not "static".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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