iWorld
Reddit takes Australia to court over ban on young social-media users
SYDNEY: Australia faces a high-stakes legal battle over its groundbreaking ban on social media for children after Reddit filed a lawsuit in the country’s highest court.
The American platform filed suit on Friday, arguing the world-first law, which prohibits under-16s from accessing social media, unlawfully restricts free speech guaranteed by Australia’s constitution. Reddit’s 12-page application to the High Court named the federal government and communications minister Anika Wells as defendants.
The San Francisco-based company, which boasts a $44 billion valuation and considers Australia a key market, also contends it should be exempt from the law because it fails to qualify as social media under the legislation’s definition.
The challenge comes just two days after the ban took effect on December 10th. Platforms must now prevent under-16s from accessing their services or face fines of up to A$ 49.5 million ($33 million). Children and their parents will not face any penalties.
Reddit’s intervention marks the second court challenge to the ban, following an action filed last month by two teenagers affiliated with an Australian libertarian group. But the tech company’s deep pockets and legal resources, however, greatly intensify the pressure on the government and could prompt other tech companies to take similar action.
Ten major platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, opposed the law for more than a year, but eventually agreed to comply. They say they will now use technology that estimates a user’s age through online behaviour or selfie analysis.
Health minister Mark Butler accused Reddit of protecting corporate profits rather than children’s rights to political expression. He compared the tech industry’s tactics to those employed by tobacco companies against smoking regulations.
Reddit countered that the ban carries “serious privacy and political expression issues for everyone on the internet”. The company’s filing emphasised that Australians under 16 would soon become voters. “The choices to be made by those citizens will be informed by political communication in which they engage prior to the age of 18,” it argued.
iWorld
Master app launches exclusive cricket series for IPL
Eloelo platform teams with Tanay Tiwari for Cricket Stories and 200 plus match analysis in IPL
MUMBAI: Master has just bowled a perfect yorker at cricket fans this IPL turning match days into bite-sized masterclasses of inspiration. Eloelo Group’s popular microlearning and infotainment app has expanded its content slate with exclusive cricket programming. It has teamed up with leading content creator and sports presenter Tanay Tiwari to launch the special series “Cricket Stories With Tanay”, alongside a dedicated cricket section featuring over 200 content pieces on daily match analysis, news and updates produced by a team of sports experts and creators.
The new series offers a deep dive into previously unheard inspirational tales from the world of cricket from the history and personal journeys of iconic players to remarkable stories of courage and motivation. The opening episode explores untold stories from Sachin Tendulkar’s life and his role as mentor to many young cricketers. The second episode spotlights Yuvraj Singh’s mentoring influence on stars such as Rishabh Pant, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill.
Master already hosts more than 2,000 courses on subjects ranging from banking and finance to devotion and Indian history, making it one of the top 10 most downloaded apps in India on Google’s Android Play Store. The fresh cricket focus is designed to engage its fast-growing audience of curious learners during the high-energy IPL season.
In the coming months, Master will expand into newer languages and introduce additional courses and features, enabling Bharat users to learn on-the-go in their own language and at their own pace.
From Tendulkar’s masterclass moments to Yuvraj’s legacy of guidance, the app is transforming cricket into quick, compelling wisdom. With boundaries being hit on the field and stories being served on screen, Master is proving that the best way to enjoy the IPL is with a side of real-life inspiration, all in the palm of your hand.
