SYDNEY: Australians could soon be able to opt out of social media algorithms that determine what appears in their feeds, under proposed legislation aimed at giving users greater control over their online experience.
The draft law, expected to be introduced to Australia’s parliament this week, would establish a “digital duty of care” for major technology companies.
Under the proposed rules, platforms such as Meta would be required to provide users with an option to turn off algorithms that personalise recommendations based on their interests and online behaviour.
How Australians Could Control Social Media Algorithms
Communications Minister Anika Wells said many Australians enjoy the convenience and entertainment provided by personalised algorithms, but argued that users should ultimately decide whether they want them.
“A lot of Australians will want to choose the algorithm — but we think that big tech should offer them the choice in the first place, and they should respect that choice,” Wells told national broadcaster ABC.
“We should give Australians more choice over what they should see on their feeds,” she added.
If passed, the legislation would increase pressure on social media companies to provide greater transparency and user control over recommendation systems.
Algorithms used by platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and TikTok analyse user behaviour to recommend posts and videos likely to keep people engaged.
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Social media algorithms have faced growing scrutiny over claims that engagement-driven systems can promote sensational or extreme material and encourage users to spend longer periods scrolling.
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The latest proposal forms part of Australia’s broader effort to strengthen regulation of major technology platforms.
In December, Australia implemented legislation restricting children from accessing social media, describing the measure as necessary to protect young people from online bullying and “predatory algorithms”.
The move attracted international attention, with countries including the UK and France pursuing measures of their own.
However, recent data indicated that Australians under 16 were increasing their use of platforms including Instagram and TikTok despite the restrictions.
The proposed algorithm rules would extend Australia’s regulatory focus beyond children by giving adult users greater power to determine how social media platforms select and recommend the content they see.
