Australia announced proposed legislation on Tuesday that would require social media platforms to give users over 16 the option to opt out of algorithm-driven feeds. The Digital Duty of Care laws include penalties up to 109.2 million Australian dollars ($78.6 million) for companies that fail to comply, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in Canberra, aiming to increase user control and protect children from harmful content.
Under the proposed rules, social media companies must notify both new and existing users about their choice to opt in or out of personalized feeds. The legislation also targets content promoting eating disorders, hostility towards women, pornography, crime, and dangerous stunts, which can cause serious mental health distress. The government’s statement emphasized that these measures would hold big tech companies accountable for inaction.
This move follows Australia’s world-first laws introduced last December banning children under 16 from holding accounts on major platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. The new proposal builds on that framework by empowering users and imposing significant fines for non-compliance. The penalties represent one of the largest financial deterrents globally aimed at regulating social media content and user experience.
Prime Minister Albanese highlighted that the legislation will ensure social media platforms provide genuine and enduring choices about feed content for users over 16. The government’s Digital Duty of Care proposal is now open for consultation, with the next parliamentary session expected to consider the bill later this year.