The Australian government has launched public consultation on a new legislative proposal designed to curb the influence of social media algorithms. The draft bill, which opened for feedback on September 8, would require platforms to offer users an option to disable algorithmic recommendations and instead view content solely from accounts they follow.

This initiative marks another significant step in Australia's regulation of the technology sector, following the nationwide ban on social media for children under 16 that took effect in December. The proposed framework introduces a feature dubbed "my feed, my choice," empowering users to narrow the scope of their content streams according to personal preference.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that the legislation is not about censoring the internet, but rather about restoring decision-making power to Australian citizens in their digital lives. Communications Minister Annika Wells noted that while the European Union has already taken steps to curb the impact of algorithm-driven feeds, Australia's approach differs by mandating explicit consumer rights to opt out of algorithmic curation, rather than merely offering alternative feed options.

Beyond the feed control feature, the bill expands protections for minors by requiring companies to shield users under 18 from harmful content and addictive features within online games, applications, and AI-powered chatbots. The legislation would also grant the eSafety Commissioner new authority to issue take-down notices for "nudify" apps and websites, tools that have been misused to generate non-consensual intimate images of individuals.

Companies found in violation of the proposed rules could face fines of up to AU$109.2 million (approximately US$79 million). The regulatory push comes amid growing global scrutiny of tech giants over inadequate child protection measures and algorithmically driven addictive features, which have raised significant safety concerns. Notably, Meta has already agreed to a US$18 billion settlement to resolve lawsuits brought by multiple US states regarding its conduct in child safety and social media addiction.