United Kingdom, Sept. 6 -- Australia's planned ban on social media for under-16s could be enforced using a range of technologies - but all of them carry risks or shortcomings, according to a new report.

The policy, due to take effect on 10 December, will require social media companies to take "reasonable steps" to stop Australian children from creating accounts and to deactivate existing ones.

Ministers say the measure is intended to reduce the harmful impacts of online platforms on children, and it has been described as a world first that is being closely monitored by governments abroad.

The federal government asked the UK-based Age Check Certification Scheme to examine how the ban could be implemented.

Its final report assessed a va...