Australia moves to let social media users opt out of algorithms

Australia’s government has announced plans to require social media platforms to give users greater control over the algorithms that determine what appears in their feeds, including the option to opt out of personalised recommendations.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled the “My Feed, My Way” initiative on Tuesday, September 8, as part of draft legislation establishing a broader Digital Duty of Care for online platforms. The government said the measures would build on Australia’s world-leading social media age ban, according to dpa.

Under the proposed law, platforms would have to notify new and existing users aged 16 and over and offer them a choice over their default feed. Users could opt in to a feed containing personalised content recommended by an algorithm or opt out of such recommendations and instead see posts from friends and creators they have chosen to follow.

“This is not about giving government control; it is about giving people control,” Albanese said.

He described the initiative as the next step following Australia’s social media age restrictions.

“This work has been led by parents and advocates, and we have backed them. We will continue to do so,” he said.

The proposed Digital Duty of Care would also require digital services to take steps to protect people under 18 from harmful material. The categories identified in the proposal include content promoting eating disorders, hostile ideas about women and gender equality, and pornography. Material that glorifies crime or life-endangering stunts, as well as content causing serious mental-health distress, including abuse and bullying, would also fall under the proposed framework.

Platforms that fail to comply with the Digital Duty of Care could face penalties of up to A$109.2 million, with Australia’s independent eSafety Commissioner responsible for compliance and enforcement.

The government is seeking feedback from digital platforms, industry bodies, civil society organisations and advocates before introducing the legislation to Parliament later this year.

By Tamilla Hasanova