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The Digital Duty of Care draft legislation released this month by the Federal Government introduces an Australian first initiative called My Feed, My Way.
The new laws will require social media platforms to allow users to opt out of algorithmically curated feeds.
The European Union introduced similar legislation in 2022, but Australia’s proposed legislation aims to tighten up some of the wording and hold platforms more accountable.
The devil will be in the details.
Back in time
In the early days of social media, the ‘infinite scroll’ didn’t exist. When you got to the end, you were “all caught up”.
By 2016, most platforms had built-in algorithms to recommend content. Users are now fed personalised content based on their online behaviour.
While curated algorithms might make it easier to find content we enjoy, they are designed to maximise engagement.
This becomes a concern when algorithms start introducing users to polarising or harmful content.
Echo … echo … echo …
Echo chambers form when an individual’s beliefs are reinforced by repeated exposure to similar ideas.
Social media algorithms make it easy to slip into echo chambers by slowly feeding you more and more related content.
Under the new legislation, the government also requires digital services to protect under-18s from platform architecture that could have ‘negative behavioural impacts’ and exposure to ‘harmful content’ that promotes misogyny, disordered eating, crime or bullying.
While algorithms certainly create echo chambers, there is concern about how effective simply removing them will be.
Potential roadblocks
The difference between opt-in and opt-out is another sticking point.
Experts believe an opt-in situation forces platforms to more fairly present users with a choice. Most people don’t change default settings – in an opt-out world, most users would still have the algorithm without much consideration.
The opt-in/opt-out issue may also be the deciding factor in whether the proposed legislation even passes.
The Coalition opposes the legislation, calling it “censorship” and suggesting the government focuses on fixing the under-16 ban, which recent research suggests hasn’t been effective.
Labor will need the support of the Greens, who will only support an opt-in situation.
However it ends up landing, at the very least, Australia has started a global conversation about user agency in the online world.
