Leading social media companies have cautioned the Australian government against drawing firm conclusions from initial data regarding the nation’s new under-16 user ban. The ban, intended to protect children, aimed to restrict access to platforms without parental consent. However, early findings indicate widespread continued use among children under 16. Companies argue that this data does not necessarily demonstrate a failure of the ban, and further investigation is needed to understand how children are circumventing restrictions. They suggest focusing on enforcement and parental education rather than solely relying on usage statistics. The platforms emphasized the complexity of verifying age and the potential for inaccuracies in the early reports. This response signals a debate over the ban’s efficacy and future implementation.