Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the country is "taking back control" from powerful tech giants with landmark laws banning children under 16 from social media.
He said the move was "Australia showing enough is enough", adding that it was about "our families taking back control".
Australia has become the first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking access in a move welcomed by many parents and child advocates but criticised by major technology companies and free-speech advocates.
Platforms falling within the legislation include TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook were ordered to block children or face fines of up to A$49.5 million (€28.2m) under the new law, which is being closely watched by regulators worldwide.
Mr Albanese called it "a proud day" for families and cast the law as proof that policymakers can curb online harms that have outpaced traditional safeguards.
"This will make an enormous difference. It is one of the biggest social and cultural changes that our nation has faced," Mr Albanese said.
In a video message, he urged children to "start a new sport, new instrument, or read that book that has been sitting there for some time on your shelf," ahead of Australia's summer school break starting later this month.
In the hours before the ban took effect, many of the estimated one million children impacted by the legislation began posting messages saying goodbye to their online followers.
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