The rules for Australia aren’t set in stone yet, but the government says following-only feeds must not be harder to use or less functional, that algorithm settings must be “obvious”, and that they must not change without an “explicit choice” by the user, even if they leave the app.
Buoyed by her success in Australia, Contos is now taking her campaign global.
“We feel like Canada, UK, Australia are all very aligned on online safety… Then if those three jurisdictions are doing it, it could become a critical mass thing.”
Though experiences like theirs helped inspire these reforms, both Flynn and Varsha are somewhat sceptical of them.
Varsha says she struggles to believe a country like Australia can outmuscle big tech: so she’s not sure the Digital Duty of Care bill will work. And Flynn says lawmakers should be “realistic” about the potential of the algorithm switch: “At the end of the day we use social media as a form of entertainment.”
Polling earlier this month indicated two-thirds of their fellow Gen-Zs would keep their social media algorithms – though nearly half of Australians more generally would turn theirs off.
Though Varsha admits she is unlikely to make much use of an algorithm switch, she appreciates having the choice.
“On a bad day I’m still susceptible to all of the things that I was at 17. To know that, if I’m having a bad day, I can opt out makes me feel really good.”
If you’ve been affected by the issues raised in this story, you could speak to a health professional or an organisation that offers support. Details of organisations offering advice and support for people in the UK are available from BBC Action Line.
