Australia is considering new “digital duty of care” laws that would allow social media users to opt out of algorithmic recommendations, giving people more control over what feeds they see. The proposals target how platforms tailor content, with the expectation that major companies would provide an off switch for algorithm-based feeds.
Supporters frame the move as part of broader efforts to address harms linked to social media, including concerns about addictive or manipulative design choices. The Conversation notes that calls for digital duty of care in Australia have existed for some time, including beyond earlier measures such as proposals relating to children. It also highlights that enforcement could be challenging in practice, even if the obligation is written into law.
Across reports, the central difference is emphasis: some coverage focuses on user autonomy and feed “control,” while other coverage stresses scrutiny of Big Tech and the potential risks associated with algorithmic targeting. All sources describe the same core mechanism—platforms like Meta would have to offer users the ability to disable recommendation algorithms.
