The Australian government has proposed new rules requiring major social media platforms to let users opt out of algorithm-driven feeds, giving them greater control over the content they see online.
Informally dubbed the ‘My Feed, My Way’ provision, the proposal would apply to platforms including Meta, TikTok, X and YouTube. It aims to address concerns around harmful content, excessive screen time and algorithmic recommendations that encourage prolonged social media use.
Communications Minister Anika Wells introduced the Digital Duty of Care Bill on Wednesday, outlining measures to strengthen online safety and expand the powers of Australia’s eSafety Commissioner.
The proposed legislation is built around four key principles. Platforms would be required to notify users of their option to opt out of recommendation algorithms, display the choice whenever the app is opened, ensure the feature remains prominent and easy to use, and avoid making their services more difficult to navigate for users who disable personalised recommendations.
Under the proposed system, users who opt out would see content primarily from accounts, pages and creators they have chosen to follow, rather than recommendations generated by platform algorithms.
The move seeks to address concerns over infinite-scroll interfaces and recommendation systems designed to encourage continued engagement, potentially exposing users to harmful content and reinforcing compulsive scrolling habits.
If passed into law, the legislation would give social media companies a 12-month transition period to comply with the new requirements. Non-compliant platforms could face fines exceeding A$100 million.
“Australia’s digital duty of care will set basic safety standards for the online services we use every day, just like we have in every other industry,” Wells said at the National Press Club of Australia.
“We must shift the burden from the shoulders of victims to the companies that are creating the environments where harms occur,” she added.
The proposal comes amid growing international scrutiny of social media platforms and their impact on users, particularly younger audiences. Australia has already introduced restrictions on social media access for minors, making online safety a prominent policy issue.
However, the governing Australian Labor Party has faced criticism from opposition parties, which have accused it of expanding digital censorship under the banner of online safety. Opposition voices have also called for more effective implementation of the existing restrictions on minors’ social media use.
