Australia Proposes Laws for Social Media User Control and Child Safety

CANBERRA, Australia — The Australian government has proposed new laws aimed at giving social media users, particularly those over the age of 16, more control over the content on their feeds. These laws would allow users to choose whether to see content curated by algorithms.

According to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the legislation would require social media platforms to provide tools for users to decide what appears in their feeds. This move targets not only user empowerment but also the protection of children from harmful content such as eating disorders, violence against women, and other distressing material.

“It gives users choice and it will hold the big tech companies responsible for inaction. If they don’t follow our laws, they will face significant penalties,” Albanese stated during a press conference.

The penalties set in the proposed Digital Duty of Care legislation could reach up to 109.2 million Australian dollars (approximately $78.6 million USD) for non-compliance.

Furthermore, platforms must inform new and existing users about their options for content feeds. Users can choose personalized algorithm-based content or opt to see updates solely from friends and creators they follow.

Additionally, digital services such as games, apps, and AI chatbots would need to eliminate design features with negative behavioral impacts on children, such as addiction or damage to self-esteem.

In April, Australia’s online safety watchdog announced potential legal actions against major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others. The aim is to ensure these platforms actively prevent children under 16 from accessing their services.