Australia Rolls Out Opt‑Out Laws for Social Media Algorithms

In a breezy press briefing at Parliament House on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government is moving to give everyday Australians a real say over what shows up on their social‑media screens.

The centerpiece of the proposal – dubbed the “digital duty of care” – would require platforms like Meta, TikTok and X to present a simple opt‑out button. Anyone over 16 could flip the switch and see only posts from accounts they actually follow, rather than a black‑box algorithm deciding what they should read.

Speaking alongside Communications Minister Anika Wells, Albanese stressed that the move is less about policing speech and more about handing back control. “It’s about giving people choice,” he said, adding that the law also obliges platforms to protect users under 18 from content that could be dangerous – things like eating‑disorder promotion, misogyny or the glorification of crime.

Wells warned that tech giants have been running “real‑time, unregulated product testing” on Australians for far too long. She said the new rules signal a “global reckoning” for big tech, and that companies that ignore the requirements could face penalties up to 100 million Australian dollars (about US$72 million).

The legislation builds on a 2024 law that banned children under 16 from accessing social‑media sites, a ban that took effect in December 2025. Earlier this year, the government also announced it would double the maximum fine for breaching the age‑restriction rule to 99 million Australian dollars.

While the details are still being ironed out, the message is clear: Australians will soon have a straightforward way to mute the algorithmic tide and enjoy a feed that reflects the people they actually want to follow.