Australia introduces bill to let users opt out of social media algorithms
Australia has introduced legislation that would force big tech firms to let users switch off social media recommendation algorithms, with the bill possibly passing by the end of the year.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Australia has introduced legislation that would require large technology companies to let social media users opt out of recommendation algorithms. If the bill goes through, it could be passed by the end of the year.
The rules target the automated feeds that decide what people see. Users are often inundated with content and ads chosen by algorithms based on their age or interests. That can frustrate people and clog up their feeds.
Under the proposed law, the responsibility would sit with social media companies. They would have to allow users to switch off algorithmic recommendations, make the opt-out easy to use, and ensure the site does not become clunky for those who choose it. Future users would also be given the option to opt out.
Big tech companies are unhappy with the plan. The Trump administration in the United States has backed their concerns, saying American social media companies should be exempt and describing the measure as a form of censorship. The opposition in Australia has also argued that it could lead to political censorship. The Australian Labor government has rejected those arguments and is pressing ahead.
The bill is part of a wider Australian strategy to be a world leader in curbing the influence and power of big tech. It follows the country's world-first ban on social media for under-16s, introduced almost 12 months ago.
A recent study suggests that ban has not stopped most older teenagers from using the platforms. It found four out of five young people are still accessing social media. The change appears to have had more effect on much younger children, such as eight and nine-year-olds, whose parents are keeping them off. For those already aged 14, 15 or 16, parents are finding it much harder to enforce.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| Australia introduced legislation allowing social media users to opt out of algorithms, with passage possible by the end of the year. | |
| The Australian opposition said the bill could lead to political censorship. | |
| The Trump administration said US social media companies should be exempt from the measure and described it as censorship. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News framed the bill as another step in Australia's campaign against big tech, with its Sydney correspondent explaining the policy and the political fight. It gave prominence to industry objections and US backing for an exemption, but treated the Labor government as determined to proceed. It also used the segment to revisit the under-16 social media ban and report uneven enforcement.
- “The Australian government has said enough is enough and it wants those Algorithms to be to basically allow you to opt out of using them”
- “Social media companies understandably are not very happy about this at all”
- “the labor government here isn't having a bar of it They are forging ahead with it”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.