Overview of Australia vs the algorithm
This ABC News Daily episode examines how recommendation algorithms have come to dominate social media feeds and shape what people see online, and whether new Australian laws could give users more control. Host Sydney Pead speaks with QUT digital communications expert Daniel Angus about the government’s proposed “My Feed My Way” reforms, which would force platforms to offer an opt-out from algorithmic recommendations. The discussion focuses especially on risks to young people, the spread of harmful content, and whether regulating feeds can actually solve the deeper problems of online culture.
What the episode is about
The episode explores:
- how social media moved from simple chronological feeds to algorithm-driven recommendation systems
- why algorithms are so effective at keeping people scrolling
- the risks these systems pose to children and teenagers
- the Albanese government’s proposed digital safety laws
- whether giving users a choice between “algorithm” and “following” feed will make a meaningful difference
How algorithms became so central
Daniel Angus explains that early social platforms simply showed content in the order it was posted. Over time, as platforms grew and monetized through advertising, they increasingly used recommendation systems to:
- target ads more effectively
- surface sponsored content
- predict what users would engage with
- keep users on-platform for longer
He points to Netflix as an early example of algorithmic recommendation systems becoming mainstream. Netflix’s use of user ratings and its famous recommender-system competition helped normalize the idea of tailoring content to individual preferences. Social platforms later expanded this logic using:
- demographic data
- behavioral signals like hovering or clicking
- patterns from similar users
- network-wide engagement modeling
Concerns about young people and harmful content
A major theme is the speed with which damaging content can reach young users. The episode references concerns that:
- misogynistic, violent, or sexualized content can appear quickly in new or logged-out feeds
- recommendation systems can “learn” too fast from limited user behavior
- the “cold start” problem can expose new or young users to low-quality or harmful material almost immediately
Angus says the concern is not just the algorithm itself, but the fact that this harmful content exists on platforms in the first place.
The conversation also connects these concerns to broader public anxiety about the “manosphere,” domestic violence, misogyny, and other harmful online influences.
What the government is proposing
Communications Minister Anika Wells’ proposed reforms would sit under broader digital duty-of-care legislation. Key elements discussed include:
- a requirement for platforms to offer users a choice between an algorithmic feed and a following feed
- a framework for “user empowerment”
- a code that would spell out how these design requirements are enforced
- stronger obligations for platforms to reduce serious harms
The episode notes that the laws would cover harmful content categories for under-18s, including:
- eating disorder promotion
- misogynistic content
- pornography
- glorification of crime or dangerous stunts
- abuse and cyberbullying
- other content causing serious distress
For adults, the proposal focuses more narrowly on keeping illegal material off platforms.
Will the reforms work?
Daniel Angus sees the reforms as a positive step, but not a complete solution.
What he sees as promising
- Giving users more control is a good thing.
- Young people are highly aware of how platforms manipulate attention and often want more agency.
- A code-based approach may be useful because platforms and features change quickly.
- Different platforms need different kinds of controls, since TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram work very differently.
His main caveat
Angus argues the proposal is not a silver bullet. In his view:
- opting out does not mean people will opt out
- algorithms are often blamed for broader social problems
- harmful online behavior reflects deeper cultural issues, not just platform design
- real change also requires leadership and social action to address misogyny, racism, and other harms
His bottom line: algorithmic reform can help, but it won’t fix society’s underlying problems on its own.
Key takeaway
The episode presents algorithm choice as a meaningful but limited reform. The government’s proposal could improve user control and reduce exposure to some harmful content, especially for children, but Daniel Angus emphasizes that technology alone cannot solve the broader cultural and social issues feeding online harm.
Notable insight
“Algorithm equals bad” is too simplistic — algorithms often reflect the culture and norms already present in society.
Credits
- Host: Sydney Pead
- Guest: Daniel Angus, Director of the Digital Media Research Centre at QUT
- Program: ABC News Daily