On Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government put forward "My Feed, My Way," a plan requiring social platforms to give people over 16 a clear choice: opt into algorithmic recommendations or opt out and see only posts from friends and creators they follow. The draft is out for targeted consultation now, and platforms must alert new and existing users to select a default feed.
Albanese pitched it simply: "This is not about giving government control. It's about giving people control. It's about putting choice back into the hands of Australians online." He also called it "sensible, pragmatic, practical reform," saying it gives users choice and holds Big Tech to account for inaction.
The government plans to introduce the package to Australia's Parliament this year. Companies that ignore the rules could be hit with fines up to A$109.2 million, equal to $79 million. The scope reaches AI chatbots and online games along with other digital services, obligating measures that protect under‑18s from addictive design elements.
Many big apps already offer some way to narrow what you see. TikTok has a Friends tab next to its recommendation feed. Facebook provides a friends-only view.
Instagram has Following and Favorites. YouTube provides a Subscriptions view, and on Snapchat, friends' Stories sit in a separate section, distinct from the public discovery content.
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In the previous year, Australia became the world's first country to implement a social media ban for teenagers younger than 16. Albanese has hailed it as "world-leading," yet research from the eSafety Commissioner found that three months later, more than 81% of Australian children continued to use at least one age‑restricted platform, barely down from 86% before. The same report showed 58% of teens were on social media daily or more often, compared with roughly 60% prior. Elsewhere, the U.K., France and Spain have also pursued moves to limit kids' access to social platforms.
Regulators are pushing platforms toward non‑algorithmic options and stronger guardrails for minors, and court cases are piling on. In August, Meta accepted a $18 billion settlement to resolve a landmark lawsuit filed by a coalition of U.S. states numbering in the dozens and led by California, which alleged the company misled users about harms to young people on Instagram and Facebook. As part of that deal, Meta agreed to roll out changes within months for users under 18, including a non‑algorithmic feed option, a two‑hour daily usage limit, and disabling extreme makeup and cosmetic surgery filters.
Earlier this year, a Los Angeles court ruled against Meta and YouTube in a social media addiction lawsuit brought by a plaintiff who argued features like autoplay and infinite scrolling harmed her mental health. And in March, a court ruled against Meta in a separate case from New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, ordering over $900 million in penalties for violating child‑safety laws. Rob Bonta, California's attorney general and the lead on the latest trial against Meta, has said TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat are next.
If defaults shift and engagement levers get toned down, the way social apps keep attention could change, bringing new compliance costs and potential fines. Translation for your wallet: product tweaks that reduce time spent can ripple into growth and ad revenue, which is the engine for much of consumer internet.
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