Abstract:
Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells said that Australia may pass a new law requiring Internet companies to allow users to turn off algorithm options. Agence France-Presse quoted Wells as saying on the 7th that the draft will be submitted to parliament for review this week. If passed, Internet companies must provide users with the option to turn off the algorithm, so that users will not see recommended content customized according to their preferences.
Wells said: "Many Australians appreciate algorithms, and they can get both emotional and practical value from them." But big technology companies should first provide users with choices, allowing people to decide what content they see in their own information streams.
AFP said that the algorithms used by social media companies have long been accused of being addictive, causing users to keep scrolling.
Australia will implement the world's first social media ban for minors in December 2025, aiming to protect children from online bullying and "predatory algorithms". However, research shows that six months after the regulations were implemented, about 85% of people under the age of 16 in the country still use various methods to evade supervision and continue to use social media.
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