Australia proposes mandatory algorithm opt-out for social media

The Australian government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has introduced legislation aimed at giving social media users more control over the content they consume. The central component of the proposal is a mandatory “off switch” for recommendation algorithms on major platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

If activated, this feature would restrict user feeds to only show posts from accounts they explicitly follow, preventing platforms from using automated systems to keep users engaged through curated content. The initiative seeks to mitigate the harmful effects of social media on mental health, specifically targeting issues like eating disorders, misinformation, and social polarization.

The push for regulation follows testimonies from young people regarding the dangers of algorithmic loops. For example, Varsha Yajman described how, at age 13, algorithms repeatedly pushed content related to extreme diets and dangerous weight-loss challenges, which exacerbated her struggle with an eating disorder. The government maintains that the goal is not state control over content, but rather empowering individuals to decide how they interact with digital platforms.