Australia will force social media to allow users to opt out of algorithmic feed

The Australian government has presented a draft of new regulation for digital platforms, under which social media users will be able to opt out of personalized algorithmic feeds. Platforms will have to offer a choice between algorithm recommendations and content only from accounts selected by the user.

The Digital Duty of Care legislation draft was released for consultation on September 8 by the government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

One of the key innovations is the My Feed, My Way initiative. Social platforms will have to send messages to new and existing users with the option to choose what their main feed will be.

Users aged 16 and over will be able to keep personalized recommendations generated by the platform's algorithms or opt out. In the latter case, the feed will show content from friends and creators the user has consciously subscribed to.

According to Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells, users will be able to change their choice later and switch between different feed options.

New requirements will affect not only social media

The legislative initiative is part of a broader Digital Duty of Care concept, which aims to place more responsibility for the safety of digital products directly on their owners.

The new requirements will apply, in particular, to online games, apps, and AI chatbots. Services will have to protect users under 18 from features that could negatively affect behavior or self-esteem.

Separate requirements are provided for harmful content for minors. The government classifies such content as including, among other things, materials promoting eating disorders, pornography, violence, dangerous actions, criminal behavior, as well as content that could seriously harm mental health.

Australia has been consistently tightening regulation of technology platforms in recent years. The country previously introduced age restrictions on the use of social media, and the new bill is expected to expand the responsibility of digital companies for the operation of their services.

Based on materials from: Australian government, ABC News