The Australian government has announced plans for digital duty of care legislation that would give social media users the option to bypass algorithmic content recommendations. Under the proposed framework, users would receive pop-up notifications requiring them to actively choose between accepting algorithmic feeds or viewing only content from accounts and groups they have deliberately selected to follow.
This approach mirrors how major social media platforms functioned in their early years, before algorithmic recommendations became the dominant model for content delivery. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese framed the proposal as empowering users to make informed choices about their digital experience. Supporters point to years of documented concerns about algorithmic feeds, including their tendency to promote divisive, extremist, or otherwise harmful content through amplification of engagement-driving material.
Historical precedent suggests tech companies may face significant user opt-out rates if the legislation passes and enforcement proves robust. When Apple introduced app tracking transparency notifications in iOS, Meta reported a $10 billion quarterly revenue impact as users opted out of ad tracking across Facebook and Instagram. However, tech platforms have demonstrated resistance to similar regulatory requirements elsewhere. In Europe, Meta introduced algorithm-free feeds to comply with EU law but was found by a Dutch court in 2025 to be automatically reverting users back to algorithmic feeds when they closed and reopened the app, requiring court intervention to establish clearer opt-out procedures.
The viability of the Australian proposal will depend substantially on how the legislation is written and enforced. Companies may seek to make non-algorithmic feeds technically cumbersome or less feature-rich, potentially discouraging widespread adoption. Instagram is simultaneously launching an “Algo Confessions” campaign featuring celebrities and influencers promoting the benefits of algorithmic recommendations in the Australian market.
Political support for the measure remains uncertain. While the government received backing from News Corp for recently enacted social media restrictions on minors, it is unclear whether similar support will extend to broader algorithmic control measures, particularly given expected opposition from Coalition and One Nation parties to other provisions in the proposed digital harms legislation.
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