In brief
A draft law announced by Communications Minister Anika Wells will give Australian users a choice to turn off the algorithm‑driven feeds on social media platforms. The legislation would impose substantial fines on companies such as Meta, Google and TikTok that refuse to offer the option. While the government argues it is about safety and choice, opposition leaders warn it could be a form of censorship. The move comes shortly after the country’s first under‑16 social media ban and faces scrutiny over enforcement and the broader debate about how anonymity and manipulation are regulated in digital spaces.
Australians could switch off social media algorithms under draft legislation
By Simon Atkinson – Australia producer
Australians will be able to switch off social media algorithms under draft legislation to be proposed this week. The Communications Minister, Anika Wells, who led last year’s national ban on social media for people under 16, said the new regulations would enforce “basic safety protections” on an industry that has been largely unregulated.
If major platforms like Meta, Google or TikTok do not provide a “turn‑off” option, they face “substantial” penalties. Wells emphasized that the government must ensure users have a clear choice, whether that means an opt‑in or opt‑out model for algorithmic content feeds.
Opposition figures have criticised the proposal. Liberal Party leader Angus Taylor expressed scepticism, saying the measure could amount to censorship, while others warn it should not override the existing social‑media ban for minors.
Wells explained the legislation aims “to identify risks or make big tech identify risks on their own platform and mitigate against them.” She reiterated that the intent is not to silence, but to give Australians more control over what they see.
The draft is expected to be introduced in the coming days, covering not only algorithmic feeds but also combatting harmful content such as illegal pornography and disordered‑eating videos. It follows high‑profile calls for an opt‑in model, including a speech by consent advocate Chanel Contos which highlighted the role of algorithms in exposing young people to misogynistic content.
The move follows Australia’s first social media ban for children under 16, a policy that continues to evolve as the government seeks to balance safety with free expression in the digital age.
