Australian teens navigate new world without social media as ban takes effect

BBC update   

"IT's a proud day to be prime minister of Australia," Anthony Albanese says as a world-first ban on social media accounts for under-16s comes into effect.

    Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X, Snapchat, Kick, Twitch, TikTok, Reddit and YouTube are among the platforms required to enforce the new legislation - here's what you need to know.

    This is a bold move that many other countries are watching carefully - but how the government will judge success is unclear, writes our Australia correspondent.

    An Australian teen shows the BBC her social media accounts as the ban comes into effect.

    Other affected teens have mixed views, with some "insulted" and others saying they'll "quickly get over it" - get in touch to let us know your thoughts.

    The government says the ban is aimed at protecting young people from harmful content, but critics suggest it could isolate vulnerable teenagers and push children into unregulated corners of the internet.