Memorandum
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- Connor Quincy via Fast Company
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- Society·4 min to read
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Australia proposes law giving social media users control over algorithm feeds
ReAustralia proposes law giving social media users control over algorithm feeds
The Australian government announced proposed legislation that would require social media platforms to offer users over 16 a choice between algorithm-driven feeds and chronological content from accounts they follow. The Digital Duty of Care bill also includes protections for children and penalties up to 109.2 million Australian dollars.
Australian social media users would gain the right to choose whether algorithms shape their feeds under proposed legislation announced Tuesday by the government, a move aimed at giving people more control over what they see online while holding major tech companies accountable.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters in Canberra that the new rules would require platforms to provide user empowerment tools giving people over the age of 16 genuine and enduring choice about their feed content. The proposed Digital Duty of Care legislation would also introduce protections for children against harmful material, including content that promotes eating disorders, hostile ideas about women, pornography, crime, dangerous stunts, and material that causes serious mental health distress.
Under the plan, social media platforms would be required to send notifications to new and existing users offering them a choice over their default feed. Users could opt in to having their feed include personalized content recommended by an algorithm, or they could choose to see content from friends and creators they follow instead. The government statement said platforms that fail to comply would face significant penalties, with fines potentially reaching 109.2 million Australian dollars, equivalent to about 78.6 million U.S. dollars.
Albanese framed the legislation as a direct challenge to the largest technology companies operating in Australia. The move gives users choice and holds big tech responsible for inaction, he said, adding that companies that do not follow the laws will face consequences. The announcement follows Australia's introduction in December of world-first laws banning children younger than 16 from holding accounts on major platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
The proposed legislation extends beyond traditional social media platforms. Digital services such as online games, mobile apps, and artificial intelligence chatbots would also be required to protect children from design features that have negative behavioral impacts, including addictive elements and features that affect self-esteem, according to the government statement.
The new measures come amid ongoing scrutiny of platform practices in Australia. In April, the country's online safety watchdog said it was considering court action against Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, alleging the companies have not done enough to keep Australian children younger than 16 off their platforms. The proposed Digital Duty of Care legislation would add another layer of regulatory pressure on tech firms operating in the country, requiring them to demonstrate proactive measures rather than responding after harm occurs.
Government officials have not yet provided a timeline for when the legislation would be introduced to parliament or when it might take effect if passed. The proposal is part of a broader push by Australian authorities to regulate digital spaces more aggressively, following the earlier age restriction laws that were the first of their kind globally.
