Australia Proposes New Law Giving Social Media Users Control Over Algorithm Feeds
Australia has unveiled draft legislation that would require major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, to give users a direct choice over how their content feed works.
The proposed law, dubbed "My Feed, My Way," would compel platforms to notify users and let them choose between an algorithm driven personalised feed or a chronological feed showing only content from accounts they actively follow.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the move "sensible, pragmatic, practical reform," saying it puts control in the hands of users rather than tech companies. The proposal builds on Australia's earlier world first ban on social media accounts for under 16s and reflects growing global scrutiny of engagement driven algorithms.
The country's online safety regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, will oversee compliance. Platforms that fail to meet the new requirements could face penalties of up to AUD 109.2 million.
Australia's approach mirrors the European Union's Digital Services Act, which has mandated similar opt out choices since 2024, though regulators there flagged that some platforms made the process difficult to find.
Meta and Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The bill will go through industry and public consultation before being introduced to Parliament later this year.
If a shift toward chronological feeds changes how your audience discovers content, it is worth making sure your visibility does not rest on the algorithm alone. Get in touch with EG Digital if you'd like to talk through what this could mean for your social and paid strategy.
