Australia to Require Social Media Platforms to Offer Algorithm Opt-Out, With Fines Up to $79 Million

Australia's government announced Tuesday it will introduce legislation requiring social media platforms to let users switch off algorithm-driven feeds, the latest in a series of regulatory moves targeting Big Tech's influence over online content.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government unveiled the "My Feed, My Way" initiative, which would compel platforms to allow users over the age of 16 to choose between a personalized, algorithm-curated feed or one that shows only content from people and creators they deliberately follow.

The draft legislation, released Tuesday for targeted consultation, would also require platforms to notify both new and existing users of their feed options. Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to 109.2 million Australian dollars, equivalent to roughly $79 million.

Albanese framed the move as a consumer empowerment measure rather than a government intrusion. "This is not about giving government control. It's about giving people control. It's about putting choice back into the hands of Australians online," he said at a press conference Tuesday.

"This is sensible, pragmatic, practical reform. It gives users choice, and it will hold the big tech companies responsible for inaction," Albanese added.

The proposal also extends beyond feeds: platforms hosting AI chatbots, online games, and other digital services would be required to protect users under 18 from what the legislation describes as addictive design features.

The announcement comes against a backdrop of intensifying legal and regulatory pressure on social media companies globally. In August, Meta settled for $18 billion in a landmark social media harms trial brought by a coalition of dozens of U.S. states led by California, which alleged that the company misled users about the dangers its Instagram and Facebook platforms posed to younger people.

As part of that settlement, Meta agreed to implement a non-algorithmic feed option for users under 18, a two-hour daily usage limit, and restrictions on certain cosmetic filters.

Earlier this year, Meta and YouTube also lost a social media addiction trial in Los Angeles brought by a plaintiff who claimed the platforms' design features, including autoplay and infinite scrolling, damaged her mental health. A separate ruling in March found Meta violated New Mexico's child-safety laws, with the court ordering the company to pay over $900 million in penalties.

Several platforms already offer some version of a curated-by-choice feed. TikTok has a Friends tab separating friends' posts from its recommendation-driven main feed. Facebook offers a friends-only feed, Instagram provides Following and Favorites feeds, YouTube has a Subscriptions feed, and Snapchat separates friends' Stories from public discovery content.

Australia's record on this issue is not without complications. Last year, the country became the first in the world to ban social media for children under 16. A subsequent report from Australia's eSafety Commissioner found that three months after the ban took effect, more than 81% of Australian children were still using at least one age-restricted platform — down only marginally from 86% before the ban. Some 58% of teens reported using social media daily or more, compared with roughly 60% prior to enforcement.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who led the August case against Meta, has signaled that TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat are next in his sights.

The Australian measures are set to be introduced to Parliament this year, and the government's willingness to impose nine-figure fines for non-compliance signals that the "My Feed, My Way" proposal is intended as binding policy rather than voluntary guidance — reinforcing a pattern of legislative pressure that platforms operating in Australia will need to factor into their product roadmaps.

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