Australia wants to sell its social media ban to the world – but are the measures even working?

Since Australia’s social media ban, under-16s who have managed to bypass age checks are no longer given the bare minimum of safety features the platforms have included for teenagers. Photograph: StockPlanets/Getty Images

When the age assurance technology trial released its final report before Australia’s under-16s social media ban came into effect last year, its first finding was: age assurance can be done privately, efficiently and effectively.

Four months since the ban came into effect, we can say that was – to paraphrase Yes Minister – a courageous statement.