Australia is moving to give social media users greater control over their online experience with proposed legislation that would force platforms to offer an 'off switch' for algorithmic content recommendations. The centerpiece of the proposed reforms, introduced to parliament this week, would allow users to opt for feeds showing only content from accounts they follow, rather than algorithmically curated suggestions.
Varsha Yajman, who has spoken about her struggles with an eating disorder exacerbated by social media, shared her experience of being unable to escape weight loss content despite activating all available safety settings and blocking numerous keywords. "I was like, 'I don't need to eat. I can just watch other people eat'," Yajman told the BBC. "I would find that I'd be down these really deep rabbit holes... it was like no matter how hard you tried to get out, you couldn't."
Similarly, Flynn Martin described how influencer content from the "manosphere" began dominating his feed, contributing to his struggles with mental health. "You find yourself in like a bit of an echo chamber... It's easy to get swept up in that," he said. Martin noted that he had to experience psychosis and a hospital stay to pull himself away from the rhetoric.
The Australian government states the new laws aim to protect citizens from harmful online content and design features, shifting responsibility onto tech companies. Communications Minister Anika Wells said the Digital Duty of Care bill would require online services to "ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, a safe online environment." Breaches of the law could result in fines of up to A$100 million.
However, the proposed reforms have faced criticism. Some argue that the legislation may lead to over-moderation and censorship, with concerns raised by right-wing parties in Australia and previously by the Trump administration. The government counters that these concerns are unfounded, asserting that users will still be free to share and consume a wide range of content.
Tech companies have largely remained silent on the proposed legislation. Meta, Snap, TikTok, X, and Google have not released public statements. Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri has previously argued that algorithmic feeds are crucial for user enjoyment and has downplayed the concept of social media addiction, though a recent U.S. jury ruling suggested otherwise. He also noted that non-algorithmic feeds could mean users see fewer posts from friends.
Experts point to the European Union's experience, where platforms introduced optional chronological feeds after legal challenges. However, these features have often been implemented in ways that discourage their use, with functionality limitations and a tendency to revert to algorithmic feeds. The Netherlands stands as an exception, where a court ruling mandated Meta to provide users with a choice over their home feeds without functional drawbacks.
The effectiveness of Australia's new laws remains to be seen, particularly in light of challenges in enforcing a recent ban on social media for children. While many younger Australians indicated they would keep algorithmic feeds, nearly half of the general population would opt out. Varsha Yajman, despite her skepticism about the country's ability to regulate big tech, finds value in the choice itself: "On a bad day I'm still susceptible to all of the things that I was at 17. To know that, if I'm having a bad day, I can opt out makes me feel really good."