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

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.

The world-first ban, which stipulates users must be 16 or older to create or hold social media accounts, made international headlines in December.

Call patterns remained largely unchanged since the ban was introduced, a helplines operator said.

Non-profit yourtown operates Kids Helpline and virtual services manager Tony FitzGerald told AAP it was too early to gauge any real difference.

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