Australia is moving to give social media users more control over what fills their feeds. Under new legislation being planned by the government, platforms would be required to let people easily switch algorithmic content recommendations on or off right when they log in, rather than burying the option in hard-to-find settings menus.
The BBC visited Sydney to ask residents how they feel about the algorithms that currently shape so much of their online experience, from the videos they’re shown to the ads that follow them around the internet. Many said they appreciated the idea of having a straightforward choice, rather than having recommendation systems make decisions on their behalf without clear consent.
Algorithms used by major platforms typically track what users click, watch, and linger on, then use that data to keep serving similar content in hopes of keeping people scrolling longer. Critics argue this can trap users in narrow bubbles of content or push increasingly extreme material to hold their attention. Supporters of the planned Australian rules say putting a simple opt-out switch in users’ hands would mark a meaningful shift in how much power tech companies hold over what people see online.
It’s part of a broader push by Australian regulators to rein in social media companies’ influence on daily life. You can read the full story and watch Sydney residents share their views in the original BBC report.
Source: 'Good to have choice': Australians on opting out of social media algorithms (feeds.bbci.co.uk). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Image Genie, BY-SA 2.0 (via Openverse).