Australian social media ban starts

AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed a world-first social media ban for children younger than 16 as it took effect on Wednesday.

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But he warned the implementation would be difficult. Parents reported distraught children discovering they had been shut out of platforms as the landmark law took effect.

Some young children reported fooling the platforms' age estimation technology by drawing on facial hair.

Parents and older siblings are also expected to help some children circumvent the restrictions.