Australia said on Saturday it would double the maximum penalty it can impose on tech firms found to have failed to uphold a ground-breaking social media ban for children, as evidence mounts that the ban has had little effect on teen use.

Australia will strengthen its social media ban for young people as a priority amid concerns the powers behind the world-first laws are not strong enough.

Australia is strengthening laws to ban social media for under-16s, despite initial challenges in enforcement. Prime Minister Albanese vows to "bullet-proof" legislation as the…