CANBERRA, Australia — The Australian government has announced new proposed laws aimed at giving social media users more control over their feeds while enhancing protections for children online. Under the proposed legislation, users would be able to opt out of algorithm-driven content.
Speaking in Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated, “We’ll require social media platforms to provide user empowerment tools that give people over the age of 16 genuine and enduring choice about what they see in their feeds.”
The proposed laws also focus on safeguarding children from harmful content, including those that promote eating disorders, negative perceptions of women, and dangerous behaviors. This initiative follows the introduction of previous legislation that barred children under 16 from opening accounts on major platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Prime Minister Albanese emphasized the importance of user choice and the accountability of tech companies, noting that significant penalties would be imposed if platforms do not comply. Penalties could reach up to 109.2 million Australian dollars ($78.6 million) under the proposed Digital Duty of Care legislation.
A government statement indicated that social media platforms would need to notify both new and current users, presenting them with options to personalize their feeds. Users could choose between algorithm-recommended personalized content or the content shared by friends and preferred creators.
Furthermore, the proposal includes measures for digital services, such as online games and AI chatbots, to prevent features that can negatively impact children’s behavior and self-esteem, like addictive elements.
In April, Australia’s online safety watchdog considered legal action against major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube for not adequately preventing under-16s from accessing their platforms.
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