In brief
A new Digital Duty of Care bill in Australia will require social‑media platforms to offer a true “algorithm switch” that lets users disable content recommendations. The measure follows stories of Australians like Varsha Yajman, who battled anorexia partly because weight‑related feeds kept appearing automatically, and of Flynn Martin, who was drawn into harmful echo chambers. Critics worry it could lead to over‑moderation, while supporters say users still retain full control over who they follow and what they share. The proposal remains under debate, with tech firms silent so far and the efficacy of such controls still uncertain.
The Australian government has unveiled a Digital Duty of Care bill that would force platforms such as Meta, TikTok, X and Google to provide a true “alg‑switch”—a setting that lets users force feeds to show only content from accounts they actively follow.
The push comes after stories of Australians who suffered hidden harm from algorithmic curation. 24‑year‑old Varsha Yajman, now recovering from anorexia, says she still receives weight‑related posts even with every safety filter turned on. Another Gen‑Z, Flynn Martin, was dragged into the manosphere through recommended content, eventually leading to a psychiatric admission.
The bill would also impose a legal duty of care on all online services—requiring them to prevent exposure to “harmful” material involving eating disorders, pornography or extremist content, and allowing penalties of up to A$100m for breaches.
While the move has caught the backing of some political figures and mental‑health advocates, it has provoked concern from right‑wing parties and former U.S. administrations that the reform could over‑moderate or censor speech. Meta and other tech giants have so far declined to comment.
Existing experiments with following‑only feeds in the EU and the Netherlands suggest that while such switches can reduce unwanted content, users often ignore or abandon them because the interface is clunky or because the switch reverts to an algorithmic feed once the app is reopened. Australia’s draft rules aim to make a non‑algorithmic mode “obvious” and ensure it does not lose functionality between sessions.
Consumer tests show that up to two‑thirds of Gen‑Z users would keep their algorithm on, but about half of the broader Australian population would turn it off if given a true choice. Even Varsha, who may not use the switch often, values the option as a safeguard during moments of vulnerability.
For help if you, or someone you know, is affected by the issues raised in this story, please seek professional support or reach out to organizations that offer assistance for eating disorders. In the UK there are resources from BBC Action Line to help.
