STORY: Australia's government mounted a defence on Saturday (August 1) of its world-first ban on social media for children under 16, even as fresh data revealed the scale of the challenge confronting the landmark policy.

The defence came a day after the nation's internet regulator found that more than eight in ten Australian teenagers were still using social media three months after the restrictions took effect, underscoring the difficulty of policing a digital world woven into daily life.

Australia introduced the landmark ban in December on concerns about the impact of social media on the mental and physical health of children. The ban, being closely watched overseas, has drawn criticism ‌from social media companies, mostly based in the U.S.

Confronted with the regulator's findings, Andrew Leigh, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, argued the ban had already reshaped the national debate.

The ban has been "an important game changer in the conversation among parents," Leigh said in televised remarks.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (JULY 14, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF TEENAGERS USING PHONES

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (AUGUST 1, 2026) (SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA – Broadcast: No use Australia / New Zealand Digital: No use Australia / New Zealand / New Zealand.com.au internet sites / any internet site of any Australia based media organisations or mobile platforms / Australian NVO clients / smh.com.au / news.com.au)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEWS24 HOST, ALEX THOMAS, SAYING:

"How concerned are you about that?"

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA (AUGUST 1, 2026) (SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA – Broadcast: No use Australia / New Zealand Digital: No use Australia / New Zealand / New Zealand.com.au internet sites / any internet site of any Australia based media organisations or mobile platforms / Australian NVO clients / smh.com.au / news.com.au)

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR PRODUCTIVITY, COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY, ANDREW LEIGH, SAYING:

"We've had millions of accounts shut down. It's been an important game changer in the conversation among parents. The Australian Government has taken the lead and a giant piece that Jonathan Haidt recently wrote emphasised the way in which other countries are now following suit. We never expected that this would have 100% compliance. We don't get 100% compliance out of minimum drinking age laws, but it's still appropriate that we have those laws and that law on the books."

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (ARCHIVE - DECEMBER 8, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

4. PHONE APPLICATION ICONS REFLECTING IN PERSON’S EYE

5. VARIOUS ICONS OF NINE OF THE TEN SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS INCLUDED IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA BAN

6. PERSON LOOKING AT LARGE SCREEN WITH TIKTOK VIDEOS