Attempts to ban young people using social media is not a moral panic, an expert says, urging parents and tech companies to play a greater role on age restrictions online.

Mental health and safety concerns for young people have been cited by the federal government for its plans to introduce a minimum age to access social media by the end of 2024. 

An exact age limit has not been determined, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says.

Director of the Screens and Gaming Disorder Clinic in Sydney Brad Marshall said it did not matter what the age limit was, but the action was overdue.

“The specific age is not so relevant, whether it’s 14 or 16, that’s not the major focus. The major focus has to be that we do draw a line in the sand,” he told AAP.

“Perhaps we have to enforce it, but it has to be a way in which we can ask to have parental controls that actually work. 

“Any eight- or 10-year-old can find their way around (current ones).”

Mr Marshall said evidence pointed to social media having a detrimental effect on young people and efforts were needed towards ensuring age bans would work.

“It’s not a moral panic. The government is seeing the health research which indicates there are significant impacts – not only from mental health but cyberbullying and body-image issues – and they’re trying to do something,” he said.

“I don’t deny that a dynamic of adolescence is (if you try to ban something it will make it more appealing). 

“But it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do that, because it’s still worth indicating to parents and communities about the potential harms.”

But age limits on social media are not an effective solution, RMIT University Professor of Information Sciences Lisa Given says.

She said the government calls were premature and there were significant challenges with age-verification technology.

“Children need to gain the necessary skills to navigate online worlds – including social media – and banning them from these platforms is not the solution,” Professor Given said.

“Young people may also find ways to circumvent these bans and be less likely to disclose if they have encountered harmful content.”

Government trials are under way on age verification as part of ways to enforce potential age bans.

Mr Albanese said social media was a scourge on young people that needed to be addressed.

“This is about giving children the childhood and parents peace of mind. I want young Australians grow up playing outside with their friends off their phones,” he told parliament.

“Social media is causing social harm. It can be used as a weapon for bullies and a vehicle for scammers, worst of all a tool for online predators.”

This post was originally published on Michael West.