Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to strengthen the country’s landmark ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, as the government prepares legal action against technology companies over concerns that existing safeguards have failed to curb youth access.

Speaking on Friday, Albanese said the government is determined to ensure the legislation remains robust enough to withstand expected legal challenges from social media platforms.

“What we want to do is to make sure that the laws are as strong as possible and that they will withstand any legal challenges which are made,” Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Australia’s under-16 social media ban, introduced six months ago, has attracted international attention as one of the world’s most ambitious efforts to address growing concerns about the impact of social media on young people’s mental and physical well-being.

Governments in several countries have been closely monitoring the Australian approach as they consider introducing similar restrictions.

Earlier this month, Britain announced plans for even broader measures that would extend age-based restrictions beyond traditional social media platforms to include gaming and live-streaming services.

Despite Australia’s pioneering legislation, evidence gathered since the ban took effect suggests it has had only limited success in reducing teenagers’ access to social media.

Researchers have found that many of the age-verification tools introduced by technology companies can be easily bypassed by children.

Several studies indicate that common age-assurance methods—including facial recognition through selfies and other digital verification systems—are often ineffective. In many cases, researchers found that young users were never required to verify their age before accessing online platforms.

The findings have raised questions about the effectiveness of existing compliance measures and intensified pressure on technology companies to strengthen their enforcement systems.

Australian officials say the planned legal action is intended to ensure digital platforms meet their obligations under the law and take greater responsibility for preventing underage access.

The government’s latest move underscores its commitment to tightening online safety regulations and could further influence international efforts to introduce stricter protections for children in digital spaces.

As policymakers around the world continue to debate how best to regulate social media use among minors, Australia’s experience is likely to remain a closely watched test case for future online safety legislation.