Key Highlights

  • Australia's government proposed the “My Feed, My Way” initiative, requiring platforms to let users over 16 opt out of algorithm-based feeds in favor of content only from accounts they follow.
  • Non-compliant platforms could face penalties of up to 109.2 million Australian dollars, roughly $79 million.
  • The legislation would also require AI chatbots, online games and other digital services to protect users under 18 from addictive design features.
  • The move follows Australia's world-first ban on Social Media for under-16s last year, which studies show has had limited effect on actual platform use.

A New Front in Australia's Push to Rein In Big Tech

Australia's government unveiled legislation Tuesday that would let social media users switch off algorithm-driven feeds, the latest step by regulators worldwide to curb the influence of major technology platforms. The proposed “My Feed, My Way” initiative would require platforms to let users over the age of 16 choose between a personalized, algorithm-recommended feed or an “opt out” feed showing content only from friends and creators they follow.

The legislation, released Tuesday for targeted consultation, would require platforms to notify new and existing users so they can select their default feed. Companies that Fail to comply could face penalties of up to 109.2 million Australian dollars, or roughly $79 million. Australia's prime minister said the measures are about giving people choice rather than government control, describing the reform as sensible and pragmatic while holding technology companies accountable for inaction.

Platforms Already Offer Partial Alternatives

Several platforms already let users separate algorithmically recommended content from posts by people they know. One short-video platform offers a friends-only tab alongside its primarily recommendation-driven feed, while other major platforms offer following-based or subscription feeds as alternatives to algorithmic recommendations.

The measures set to be introduced to Australia's Parliament this year would also require AI chatbots, online games and other digital services to take steps protecting users under 18 from addictive design features, extending the government's regulatory focus beyond social media alone.

Mixed Results From Australia's Teen Social Media Ban

Last year, Australia became the first country to introduce a social media ban for teens under 16, a measure the prime minister called “world-leading.” Studies from the country's online safety regulator found limited impact so far: more than 81% of Australian children were still using at least one age-restricted platform three months after the ban took effect, only slightly down from 86% before the ban. The share of teens using social media daily or more often fell to 58% from around 60%.

Big Tech Faces Mounting Legal Pressure

Social media companies have faced significant legal scrutiny this year. One major platform operator settled for $18 billion in August in a landmark trial brought by a coalition of US states alleging the company misled users about the harms its platforms posed to younger users. As part of that settlement, the company agreed to let users under 18 choose a non-algorithmic feed, implement a two-hour daily usage limit, and disable certain cosmetic filters.

Earlier this year, two major platforms lost a social media addiction trial in Los Angeles brought by a plaintiff who alleged that features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling damaged her mental health. A separate case in March found one platform violated New Mexico's child-safety laws, resulting in a penalty of more than $900 million. The official who led the most recent trial has said other major platforms will be targeted next.

A Regulatory Landscape Still Taking Shape

With Australia joining the UK, France and Spain in pursuing measures to limit children's social media access, and with legal setbacks mounting for major platforms in the US, the trajectory of global regulation will likely hinge on whether opt-out and age-verification tools prove more effective in practice than Australia's under-16 ban has been so far.