Tezzbuzz Desk – Australia is preparing to soon give social media users more control over their feeds. The government is planning to bring a new law, under which users can get the option to turn off personalized algorithms. That is, users will be able to decide for themselves whether social media should suggest content to them based on their preferences and online activities or not. Under the proposed law, big tech companies like Meta may have to give users such an option, so that they can turn off the recommendation algorithms that analyze their interests and online behavior. The government aims to give users more rights over social media feeds.
According to Australia's Communications Minister Anika Wells, users should have the right to decide how their social media feeds work. The government says that many people like personalized feed, but those who do not want this facility should also have the option to turn it off. The provision of 'Digital Duty of Care' for big tech companies can also be included in the proposed draft. Its purpose is to make platforms more responsible for the impact of their algorithms on users.
Australia has already taken strict steps regarding social media. Restrictions have been implemented on major social media platforms for children under 16 years of age. However, according to reports, some children are still finding ways to use platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Social media algorithms analyze users' likes, shares, video viewing and browsing patterns to show the same content again and again. This can keep users on the platform for longer periods of time and can sometimes lead to increasingly sensational or extremist content. Australia's new proposal is being considered a big step towards giving users the option to opt out of this process.