Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said teenagers will face a "difficult" adjustment as new laws restricting their access to social media take effect.
The new laws came into force on Wednesday and ban teenagers aged under 16 from holding accounts on some social media platforms, including Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok.
Albanese lauded the new restrictions which his government has described as world-first legislation, but acknowledged it would be a "difficult period" for affected teenagers.
"This is the day when Australian families are taking back power from these big tech companies," he told ABC TV on Wednesday.
"One of the dynamics that has occurred over a period of time is people being addicted, effectively.
"It won't be simple. It'll be a difficult period."
Some experts have been divided over the issue, saying the ban will have positive and negative effects, while others have argued social media is an important tool for young people to have access to.
Earlier, in a video message posted to social media, Albanese encouraged teenagers to use the ban as an opportunity to "spend quality time" face-to-face with family and friends.
"Make the most of the school holidays coming up, rather than spending it scrolling on your phone," he said on Tuesday.
"Start a new sport, learn a new instrument, or read that book that has been sitting there on your shelf for some time."
'Can't avoid in a week's time', Wells says
Some have raised concerns children could try to find ways around the restrictions or that age verification could be unreliable.
The 10 platforms committed to the ban, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and Reddit, to take reasonable steps to block children from accessing their services, or face fines of up to $49.5 million per breach.
Tech companies are expected to use a range of methods to verify a user's age, including face scans with artificial intelligence, sophisticated analysis of people's posting patterns and language, and digital IDs.
Some platforms, such as YouTube, will still be accessible without an account, but it will be harder for algorithms to target content to children.
Esafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said some companies have come into the ban "kicking and screaming", but she believes they have the "technical capability" to enforce the ban.
"There will be teething issues, and kids are ingenious; they will be finding ways around it," she told ABC News on Wednesday morning.
"But the way that we are looking at compliance and enforcement is around systemic failures, and I 100 per cent believe that these companies have the technical capability to achieve this."
In response to claims, some children have continued to access social media after the ban took effect, Communications Minister Annika Wells said: "They might have avoided it today does not mean they can avoid it in a week's time or a month's time because these social media platforms have to go back and routinely check under-16s' accounts."
Wells told reporters on Wednesday morning social media companies have years of data they can use to ascertain a person's age, whether it's previous searches or the subjects of conversations children may have.
She said more than 200,000 TikTok accounts have been deactivated so far.
"Because you've had your older brother scan their face for you today which has bought you a bit of time, doesn't mean that these accounts aren't going to see you talking to other 14-year-olds," she said.
Social media companies have an "onus" to enforce the ban, Wells said, adding the government is also looking at how to regulate artificial intelligence chatbots and bring in a "digital duty of care" next year.
The ban has also been subject to last-minute changes. A month before the ban took effect, social media platform Reddit and streaming site Kick were included.
Little-known apps Lemon8 and Yope have also been warned they may be added in the future.
Across Europe, governments and institutions are tightening restrictions on children's social media use, with Australia's laws increasingly viewed as a reference point.
— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press
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