Six-in-seven respondents backed age restrictions for social media use, with 16 being the most suggested minimum age.

The NSW Government survey, taking in views from 21,000 people, revealed usage steadily increased with a child’s age.

Seventy per cent of 10- to 12-year-olds were already on the apps, while those aged 16 and 17 averaged more than three hours a day.

Young people cited concerns over excessive screen time, with two out of every three teens aged 16 to 17 saying social media distracts them from essential tasks such as schoolwork and family obligations.

Parents highlighted addiction, exposure to inappropriate content and the detrimental effect on their children’s daily responsibilities.

The most frequently mentioned issues included cyber security risks, exposure to harmful content and concerns over how social media usage is affecting children’s behaviour.

“Parents are concerned about how social media is impacting the lives of young people,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said on Friday.

“The huge response to this survey sends a powerful message about the extent of community concern.

“Parents and children are rightly concerned about this giant global unregulated experiment on young people.”

Tighter restrictions, however, haven’t been universally backed.

Mental health organisations warned federal MPs this week during the Social Media and Australian Society inquiry a blanket ban would cause harm.

Representatives from ReachOut, Headspace and Beyond Blue rejected proposals to raise age limits, telling politicians the move would cause greater harm to children and give parents a false sense of security.

Rather than banning teens from social media, Beyond Blue chief executive Georgie Harman told the inquiry that the Federal Government should regulate major social networks. 

“A ban would expose young people to new harms,” ReachOut government relations director Ben Bartlett said.

“It may leave some young people without any mental health support options, it may make them less likely to seek help when they need it and be less likely to tell an adult when things go wrong online.”

A survey conducted by ReachOut found almost three-in-four young people turned to social media platforms including TikTok, YouTube and Instagram to access information and support for mental health issues.

Removing teens’ access to this information, Bartlett said, would leave them worse off.

Young journalist Leonardo Puglisi also aired concern a wide-reaching ban could impact education.

The 16-year-old 6 News Australia’s founder warned that children would seek to evade any technological restrictions placed on them.

“I don’t think there is a silver bullet in this situation but a blanket ban I can see causing harm and we don’t want to cause any further harm,” Puglisi, who founded his news outlet aged 11, said.

“When there’s danger in the water, we don’t teach kids to stay out of the water, we teach them to swim, right?” he told the federal inquiry this week.

Social media platforms generally forbid under-13s from creating accounts in their terms and conditions.

However, parent-run campaigns highlighting harms have convinced both major political parties to introduce higher, enforceable age limits.

Parent groups and researchers told the inquiry this week only adults should be allowed to access social media in Australia, with children banned from joining digital platforms just as they are stopped from accessing alcohol or cigarettes.

They said the change would protect them from serious harm and provide a solution for parents struggling to understand online risks.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has announced plans to lift the age limit to 16, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to enforce a minimum age but is yet to reveal details.

Raising the age has also won support from the premiers of NSW and South Australia, leading to a rare dual-state conference where experts, policymakers and young people will consider age-based bans and how to improve digital wellbeing.

The first-of-its-kind Social Media Summit starts in Sydney on Thursday, before moving to Adelaide on Friday.

AAP