SYDNEY, Australia: Australia's government defended its ban on social media for children under 16 on August 1, even as new data showed how hard it is to enforce the rule.

The response came a day after the country's internet safety regulator reported that more than 80 percent of Australian teenagers were still using social media three months into the ban. The findings highlighted how difficult it is to control online activity that is part of everyday life.

Australia introduced the law in December because of concerns about how social media affects children's mental and physical health. The policy is the first of its kind in the world and is being closely watched by other countries. However, it has faced criticism from major social media companies, many of which are based in the United States.

After the regulator released its findings, Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh said the ban had already changed how parents think and talk about social media.

He said the policy had become an important turning point in discussions among families and added that millions of social media accounts had already been closed.

"We never expected that this would have 100 percent compliance. We don't get 100 percent compliance out of minimum drinking age laws, but it's still appropriate that we have that law on the ⁠books."

A study by the eSafety regulator showed that children aged 10 to 15 were using social media just as often in March as they had before the ban began on December 10. It also found that parents were less aware of their children's online activity than before.

These results were similar to earlier data released in March, about three months before the government announced plans to strengthen enforcement. Those plans include doubling the maximum fines for technology companies that fail to comply with the rules.