Australia Proposes Law Allowing Users to Opt Out of Social Media Algorithms

Australia Takes Aim at Social Media Algorithms

Australia has unveiled draft legislation that would force social media platforms to allow users to opt out of algorithmic feeds, marking the country's latest move to regulate Big Tech1

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. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the proposed changes on Tuesday, positioning them as part of a broader digital duty of care framework designed to give users control over their online experience3

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Under the "my feed, my way" plan, new and existing social media users would receive notifications offering them a choice between personalized content recommended by algorithms or a chronological feed showing only content from friends and creators they actively follow4

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. Communications Minister Anika Wells stated that tech companies had been "running real-time, unregulated product testing on Australians" for too long, adding that "there is a global reckoning coming for Big Tech"1

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Why Australia Wants to Turn Off Social Media Recommendations

The push to let users opt out of algorithmic feeds stems from mounting concerns about harmful content being amplified through recommendation systems. Tama Leaver, a professor of internet studies at Curtin University in Perth, explained that social media platforms shifted from reverse chronological feeds to recommender systems designed to keep users engaged longer1

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. "In the Australian context, there's been real concern that the recommender system has pushed harmful content, including misogynistic content, manosphere sort of content, and a range of other things, into people's feeds when they haven't wanted it," Leaver said1

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The proposed Australian legislation specifically targets content promoting eating disorders, misogyny, pornography, and criminal activity3

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. The digital duty of care framework would require online games, apps, and AI chatbots to protect children under 18 from design features with negative behavioral impacts, including addictive features that affect self-esteem4

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Penalties and Enforcement Through eSafety Commissioner

Tech companies face significant financial consequences for failing to comply with the new online safety regulations. Platforms could be hit with penalties exceeding 100 million Australian dollars ($72 million) if they don't adhere to the proposed laws1

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. The eSafety Commissioner will gain expanded powers to issue removal notices to social media platforms, with operators required to document measures taken to address algorithmic harms3

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A separate amendment introduced to Parliament would double civil penalties for noncompliant platform providers from 30,000 to 60,000 penalty units5

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. The legislation also expands the commissioner's information-gathering powers beyond platforms themselves to include third parties such as age verification vendors and contractors involved in age-assurance processes5

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Political Opposition and Censorship Concerns

The proposed social media regulation has sparked debate about government overreach and potential censorship. Opposition leader Angus Taylor expressed skepticism, telling News24: "I fear that this is just going to be an attempt by the government to censor social media"1

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. Albanese firmly rejected these concerns, stating: "This is not about giving government control, it is about giving people control"3

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The Labor government will need support from the Greens to advance the laws through parliament, as the main opposition parties have flagged concerns3

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. Albanese acknowledged potential pushback, saying: "Of course, there will be opponents, because what this is about is changing the power relationship. We're taking power from big global tech companies and giving it to ordinary Australians"3

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Global Context and Business Implications

Australia's move follows the European Union's Digital Services Act, which came into full force in 2024 and allows users on large platforms with more than 45 million monthly users to opt for feeds based on chronological order rather than algorithmic suggestions1

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. However, some regulators have complained that platforms didn't make it easy enough for users to opt out1

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Research suggests chronological feeds pose business challenges for social media platforms. A Meta-backed study published in Science found that users on chronological feeds spent nearly eight hours less on Instagram over three months, increasing their time on TikTok by 36% and YouTube by 20%5

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. The findings align with earlier internal Facebook experiments from 2014 and 2018, which also found that chronological feeds drove users away from the platform5

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Albanese plans to promote the digital duty of care framework at the UN General Assembly in New York later this month3

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. The draft laws are open for consultation with social media companies, industry bodies, and civil society groups, with introduction to parliament expected later this year1

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. Social media companies have not yet commented on the proposed changes1

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