Australia's New Bill Against Social Media Algorithms
The Australian government has submitted a bill to parliament allowing users to turn off algorithmic feeds and view only accounts they follow.
The Australian government has submitted the 'My Feed, My Way' bill to parliament, giving social media users the ability to turn off algorithmic content feeds and see only posts from accounts they follow.
'My Feed, My Way' Regulation
The new bill submitted to parliament by the Australian government aims to allow users to turn off algorithmic content feeds and view only the posts of accounts they follow. Under this regulation, named 'My Feed, My Way', social media users over the age of 16 are granted the right to determine the type of feed on their homepage. Users will be able to continue seeing content recommended by platforms' algorithms if they wish, or they can choose a feed consisting exclusively of posts from people they follow.
Statements by Prime Minister Albanese
According to the bill, social media platforms will be required to offer both current and new users the option to choose their default content feeds. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that this regulation was prepared not to give the government more control, but to put control directly into the hands of users. The regulation stands out for directly intervening in personalized recommendation systems that social media companies use to keep users on the platform longer.
Child Protection Obligations
The bill goes beyond covering algorithmic content feeds, also introducing significant obligations for digital services. Under the bill, digital services are planned to protect users under the age of 18 from harmful content. Content that promotes eating disorders, inappropriate materials, posts encouraging crimes or life-threatening online challenges, as well as bullying and abuse content that could cause severe psychological harm, are included within the scope of this regulation.
Sanctions and Scope
It is stated that social media platforms that fail to comply with the rules could face fines of up to approximately 100 million Australian dollars. Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells emphasized that the regulation will not be limited to social media alone, aiming to protect children from harmful content in chatbots, gaming platforms, applications, and messaging services as well.
Process and Expectations
Australia had become the first country to implement restrictions on social media use for those under 16 in December 2025. The new bill, this time, aims to increase control over social media algorithms for users over 16. Not yet enacted, the bill requires parliamentary approval, and debates are expected to take place during 2026.