Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
Australia’s centre-left Labor government has proposed a major new initiative aimed at giving social media users greater control over what they see online, following the country’s landmark ban on social media access for children under 16.
Under the proposed ‘My Feed, My Way’ rules, major social media platforms would be required to give users a choice over how their main feeds are curated. The initiative would allow users to decide whether they want to receive personalised content recommended by algorithms or view posts only from friends, creators and accounts they have chosen to follow.
The proposed changes would apply to users aged 16 and above. Platforms would have to provide a clear option in their default feed settings, allowing users to switch between an algorithm-driven feed and a chronological or follow-only experience.
Australian government said the initiative is intended to strengthen online safety while giving individuals more control over their digital experiences.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the proposal was not about giving the government greater control over what people see online, but about returning that control to users.
“If platforms fail to comply with the proposed rules, they could face penalties of up to A$109.2 million,” according to the draft framework.
The move marks another significant step by Australia to regulate the way social media platforms operate and limit the influence of recommendation algorithms on users’ online experiences.
