Kids find workarounds after being booted from socials

Little-known social media apps Lemon8, Yope and Coverstar, which are not yet covered by the ban, have shot to the top of Apple's App Store charts, while some platforms are not yet be enforcing the ban for all children.

The government has warned more platforms may be included down the track.

One teenager told AAP he'd been kicked off platforms owned by Meta - which include Instagram, Facebook and Whatsapp - but still had access to Snapchat.

Others have spoken of trying to fool the age verification algorithm using makeup and other strategies.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, whose agency is responsible for enforcing the ban, conceded there would likely be some teething issues.

"We're talking to the companies on a regular basis about changing their settings and taking different approaches to implementation," she told ABC TV.

"Some will do it better than others. If there's blatant non-compliance, I think that's where we'll turn our investigations," Ms Inman Grant said.

Ten platforms are covered by the ban: YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, X, Threads, Kick and Twitch.

Under the changes, social media platforms will need to take reasonable steps to stop anyone under 16 having an account.

Tech companies have said they'll 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 like YouTube will still be accessible without an account, but it will be harder for algorithms to target content to children, and some harmful material will be hidden.

Elon Musk's X, formerly Twitter, has finally confirmed it will comply with the age restrictions, telling users it would begin verifying the ages of Australian users.

"It's not our choice - it's what the Australian law requires," X posted on its help centre.

Teenager Nick Leech is one of those having his social media access revoked.

The 15-year-old says he's most worried about how he will stay in touch with friends who live interstate.

"I mainly use Snapchat to text them and talk to them, as well as stuff like Instagram and Facebook to know what's happening in their lives," he told AAP.

The teenager from regional Victoria is taking part in a study run by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Deakin University, which will track how the ban impacts young people.

"(Social media) has become such a big part in people's lives, and ... taking that away so suddenly is going to definitely cause some issues," Nick said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged parents and children to have a conversation about the restrictions, warning some young people may find it challenging to adjust to life without social media.

"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."

AAP has heard from dozens of parents spanning a range of viewpoints on whether the new rules are an important safety measure or an overreach which takes away the rights of families to choose how they raise their children.

Abby Howells, a Canberra teacher who has two boys aged 18 and 15, said she was hopeful the ban would help younger children, but only if it can't be circumvented.

"I feel like my kids did this big experiment, you had this phone stuff ... no one knows what it's going to do to them," she said.