Australia's landmark ban on social media for under-16s has barely reduced usage among teenagers months after it took effect, a new study found, prompting the government to defend the policy. The world-first law, which the government says is aimed at protecting young people online, has not led to a significant drop in overall social media use, according to the research. Nearly 22 percent of children are still on Pinterest, and there was no statistically significant change in the use of AI chatbots. The findings suggest that many young Australians have found ways to remain active on platforms despite the age restriction. Australia has defended the ban, saying it remains an important measure even if early results show limited impact. The study does not indicate how many children have bypassed the rules or whether enforcement has been inconsistent. The government has not announced any change to the law, which applies to platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and others. The exact details of how the ban is being monitored and enforced have not been disclosed. The study's release comes as other countries watch Australia's approach as a potential model for regulating children's access to social media. The government has stressed that the law is a long-term measure and that its benefits may take time to appear. The research highlights the difficulty of enforcing age-based restrictions online, as young users can find workarounds easily. No additional statistics were provided in the reports.