Australia Proposes 'Digital Duty of Care' to Give Users Control Over Social Media Feeds
Australia is introducing new legislation that would allow users over 16 to opt out of algorithmic social media feeds and mandates protections for minors against harmful content.
Australia is taking a significant step towards user empowerment on social media with the introduction of draft legislation for a "Digital Duty of Care." This proposed law aims to give users more control over their online experience by allowing individuals aged 16 and over to opt out of algorithmically curated feeds, a feature Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dubbed "My Feed, My Way." The legislation, expected to be presented to Parliament before the end of the year, would require social media platforms to notify users of their choice between algorithmic feeds and chronological feeds populated by content from followed accounts. Platforms must then respect the user's selection.
Beyond feed control, the Digital Duty of Care extends crucial protections to users under 18. The bill encompasses a wide range of digital services, including social media, online games, applications, and AI chatbots, mandating that they safeguard minors from harmful content and manipulative design features that could negatively impact their behavior or self-esteem. This includes protection against content promoting eating disorders, misogyny, crime, dangerous stunts, pornography, and severe mental health distress.
This legislative push follows a pattern of Australia's assertive approach to social media regulation. Previous attempts, such as a ban on social media use for under-16s, have shown limited success in enforcement, with a significant majority of targeted children continuing to use these platforms. Recognizing the challenges of outright bans, the government is shifting its strategy to place greater responsibility on the companies themselves.
The proposed penalties for non-compliance are substantial, with potential fines reaching up to AU$109.2 million (approximately US$78.6 million). Furthermore, the Australian eSafety Commissioner would be granted enhanced powers to issue removal notices for harmful content and streamline existing processes for addressing cyberbullying and adult cyber abuse.
This development occurs shortly after Meta reached a multi-billion dollar settlement with U.S. states, which included allowing teenage users to opt for a non-personalized feed. The move highlights a growing global concern over the impact of algorithmic content curation on user well-being and the spread of misinformation.
Algorithmic feeds, while effective at keeping users engaged by showing them more of what they've already interacted with, can inadvertently create echo chambers and limit exposure to diverse perspectives. The "My Feed, My Way" initiative directly addresses this by offering users a choice to break free from these curated bubbles.
Several major platforms have already begun offering alternative feed options, such as Facebook's Friends tab, TikTok's Friends tab, and Instagram's chronological Following and Favorites feeds. However, these are often not the default settings, making the legislative mandate for user choice a significant advancement.
The "Digital Duty of Care" represents a significant regulatory intervention aimed at rebalancing the power dynamic between social media platforms and their users, prioritizing user safety and autonomy in the digital age.