Social Media Algorithms: What if You Could Turn Them Off?
BBC News explores the idea of turning off social media algorithms in a recent article.
BBC Homepage
Skip to content
Accessibility Help
Your account
...
Toxic algorithms wouldn't let them go - now Australia wants an off switch
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
This video can not be played
Figure caption:
Watch: Many social platforms already have following-only feeds - here's how they work
By Tiffanie Turnbull
Sydney
Published 8 hours ago
Warning: This article contains an account of living with an eating disorder
Varsha Yajman, now 24, recalls her experience with social media at the age of 13:
"I was already self-conscious about my appearance... Endless workout videos with impossible promises filled my feeds. Girls I'd never met posted about dangerous calorie challenges. Others bragged about their height, weight, and hospital visits in a twisted competition."
Even with safety settings and banned words, Varsha still receives weight loss content on social media.
Australia's government aims to protect users like Varsha with new law proposals, introducing them to parliament this week.
Key proposal:
- A switch allowing users to turn off recommender content, limiting exposure to posts from accounts not followed.
This approach differs from existing controls, often temporary and with trade-offs. Australia aims for tighter regulations.
The proposed laws also introduce a legal duty of care on online services, targeting happier and healthier Australians.
Criticisms:
- Some question the government's ability to tackle big tech effectively.
- Others, like the Trump administration, argue these reforms threaten free speech.
Personal Stories:
- Flynn Martin, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, was sucked into a misogynist influencer's echo chamber, which later helped him recognize and pull himself out.
- Varsha Yajman, in recovery from anorexia, still encounters diet culture on social media.