AUSTRALIA EYES ALGORITHM OPT-OUT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA

The proposed law could transform social media into a choice between algorithm-driven feeds or chronological posts from selected friends. Users would gain control over their feed experience rather than remaining locked into the default recommendation system. The government's digital duty of care legislation aims to reduce engagement-focused algorithms that keep users scrolling through potentially harmful content. Implementation depends on two critical factors: the bill's passage through parliament and tech companies' genuine compliance with its terms. Industry observers note that platforms have a track record of finding workarounds to regulatory requirements. Even with legislation in place, companies could introduce subtle design changes or technical obstacles to discourage users from selecting algorithm-free feeds. The outcome remains tied to how strictly regulators monitor compliance and what penalties apply to non-compliance.