Australia proposes switch to turn off social media recommendations

Australia’s government has introduced proposed laws that would require social media platforms to let users switch off recommended content. With the switch off, users would see posts only from accounts they follow.

The proposal is part of a broader package of laws targeting big tech. It would also place a legal duty of care on online services. The government says the changes aim to protect Australians and help them become happier and healthier.

The proposal follows a campaign by consent education activist Chanel Contos, whose “Fix Our Feeds” petition called for recommendation algorithms to be off by default, with users able to opt in. More than 15,000 people signed the petition. The government announced a version of the proposal in September, but stopped short of requiring the switch to be off by default.

People who spoke to the BBC described being served content they did not want, including weight-loss material and posts from misogynist influencers. Varsha Yajman, who is recovering from anorexia, said she still sees weight-loss content despite using safety settings and a list of banned words. Flynn Martin said manosphere content overwhelmed his feeds when he was struggling with his mental health. Both said social media was a key factor in difficult periods of their lives, while acknowledging it was not solely to blame.

Critics say the government may be taking on too much in its conflict with big tech. Others, including the Trump administration, argue the reforms threaten free speech. Social media companies say risks are overstated and that they already offer safety tools.