Australia Considers Requiring Social Media to Have Algorithm Opt-In Feature for Users
Australia is considering a major change to the way social media platforms use recommendation algorithms. The government is weighing whether users should have to actively choose to use these systems instead of having them switched on automatically when they create an account. The proposal is part of a wider government effort to reduce family as well as domestic violence and protect young people from harmful online content. Officials are increasingly concerned that social media platforms can quickly direct users toward violent, misogynistic and sexually harmful material. Tanya Plibersek, the minister for social services, has raised strong concerns about the role…