Nearly five million social media accounts belonging to Australian teenagers have been removed or deactivated since a law banning users under 16 took effect last month.

The law requires major platforms to take reasonable steps to block underage users or face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the early results encouraging, though officials acknowledged the figures offer only a limited view of the ban’s effectiveness.

Many teenagers report easily bypassing age checks by lying about their age or using a parent’s details, The New York Times has reported.

Other countries are closely watching Australia’s approach as they consider similar restrictions, amid debate over whether a blanket ban effectively protects children.