'A bit messy': jury still out on child social media ban

It's six months since the social media ban for children started and it's unclear how it's going. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

There is little sign of a dip in cyberbullying or image-based abuse in the six months since teenagers under 16 have been banned from social media.

But, even without a clear fall in reports of online harm, the early results are not necessarily discouraging, experts say, as the nation remains at the front of efforts to restrict under-16 access to social media.