Proposed social media legislation aims to give users more control over their feeds

2 hours ago The News Room

Australian internet users will be given the choice to opt out of algorithmic recommendations under proposed social media reforms.

Draft laws setting up a digital duty of care were introduced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday.

As part of the measures, social media companies will need to provide tools for people to choose what they see in their online feeds, under a government initiative called My Feed, My Way.

Social media companies have been accused of creating addictive algorithms that keep people endlessly scrolling through recommended content. Advocates have called for a reversion to chronological feeds that show posts from friends and other accounts a user follows.

“This is not about giving government control. It’s about giving people control. It’s about putting choice back into the hands of Australians online,” Albanese told reporters in Canberra.