Under proposed legislation to reach parliament this week, Australians would gain the power to turn off the recommendation algorithms that shape their social media feeds, a government minister said on Monday. The draft law would apply to platforms operated by Meta Platforms, Google and TikTok.
The bill introduces what the government calls a “digital duty of care,” requiring companies to give users a clear option to opt out of automated systems that tailor content to personal taste. Firms that fail to offer the choice would face what the minister described as “substantial” financial penalties.
At the heart of the proposal is a concern that has followed social media for years: algorithms designed to maximise engagement can keep users scrolling far longer than they intend. The government’s response does not ban the technology, but instead hands the decision to the individual.
“A lot of Australians appreciate the algorithm, both for the enjoyment and the convenience it offers,” the minister acknowledged, framing the measure as a matter of choice rather than prohibition. Those who prefer curated feeds could keep them; those who want a simpler, chronological experience would be entitled to switch.
For an ordinary user, the change would be tangible. Instead of opening an app to a stream engineered around past behaviour, a person could choose to see posts in the order they were published, or from accounts they deliberately follow, without the invisible sorting that currently governs most platforms.
The proposal continues a broader push by Canberra to set boundaries around large technology firms. Australia has already moved to restrict minors’ access to social media and has pressed the industry to shield children from harmful material, part of a pattern of tighter obligations placed on internet platforms operating in the country.
The measure also lands as governments worldwide weigh how to regulate recommendation systems. Regulators in the United States and Europe have scrutinised the same engagement-driven designs, and lawsuits alleging that such platforms foster compulsive use have advanced through American courts.
The legislation still faces debate in parliament, and details such as enforcement mechanisms and the size of penalties will be examined before any vote. If passed, it would place Australia among the first countries to grant users a legal right to disable algorithmic curation.
For everyday Australians, the practical result would be straightforward: greater control over what appears on their screens, and the ability to step outside a system that has long decided for them.