this post was submitted on 30 Aug 2026
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39
Australia could make social media algorithms optional and follow UK ban on pornography depicting strangulation (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 21 hours ago by arbilp3@aussie.zone to c/australia@aussie.zone
27 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

The Australian government is considering allowing users to opt in or opt out of social media algorithms, and is looking at a recent UK ban on depictions of strangulation and suffocation in pornography.

The social services minister, Tanya Plibersek, said social media was “playing a huge role” in the increase in sexual violence among teenagers and choking, and confirmed the options were being considered as the government develops its second action plan to end family and domestic violence against women and children.

It follows the death of a 16-year-old girl in Sydney after a suspected sexual strangulation act. Guardian Australia reported on Thursday that a source informed about the case said the teenager was believed to have become unconscious as a result of asphyxiation during sexual intercourse, often referred to as “choking”. No arrests have been made...

Labor will also soon begin consultation on a digital duty of care bill that will put the onus on tech companies, including AI companies, to make online spaces safer for all users.

Plibersek said the digital duty of care legislation, as well as a second round of privacy reforms, could also help tackle camera-equipped smartglasses, which she said she had serious concerns about.

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[–] psud@aussie.zone 2 points 21 hours ago (3 children)

I'm happy that YouTube lets you use the algorithm or not, but it seems when people have the option most choose the algorithm

[–] shirro@aussie.zone 1 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (1 children)

I think it is generally understood that algorithm in the context of social media recommendations is a shortcut for the engagement algorithms companies use to increase time on platform. I don't think we need to spell out everything in detail when context provides the necessary clues.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 1 points 4 hours ago

In YouTube the algorithm is generally taken as the thing that chooses what to play next if you have autoplay turned on, which picks what to show in recommended video displays

In general it's the system to keep putting stuff in front of you to try to maximise your watch time

But in this thread we're talking specifically about YouTube and how close or not its subscriptions tab gets you out from under the algorithm

We can spell out specifics when talking about a specific feature of a specific platform

[–] TheLunatickle@lemmy.zip 6 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) (1 children)

This is why the government should also do an information campaign about the media bubbles and echo chambers caused by algorithms. If they really want to improve social cohesion, they need to help people understand when they are being isolated.

[–] eremophila@lemmy.zip 4 points 8 hours ago

The government does not want to improve social cohesion, they are deliberately enabling the opposite.

[–] Tenderizer@aussie.zone 1 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

That was an option????? I use custom filters in my adblocker to hide recommendations.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 4 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

You can use the subscriptions tab to see only the videos from channels you subscribe to

[–] Tenderizer@aussie.zone 2 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

You still get recommended videos on the sides and at the end of videos.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 1 points 5 hours ago

You do. Hopefully a law like this would hide that if you opted out

[–] eremophila@lemmy.zip 2 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

no idea why anyone would use youtube any other way, it's a mainly trash platform. subscribed is the way to go, the same applies to reddit, and most likely lemmy too (I have never looked at it outside of subscribed)

[–] shirro@aussie.zone 2 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (1 children)

This was one of the terrifying aspects of Labor's social media legislation. I sent a letter to the communications minister arguing that I had done everything to provide my tweens/teens with safe access to Youtube with available tech and accounts played an important role. While Youtube should be forced to give up control over shorts and algorithmic targeting, removing parental control over age limited accounts and subscriptions was a disaster for responsible parenting.

I got a lazy form response from the staff. I understand why people look to shitty populist alternatives sometimes.

[–] eremophila@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 hours ago

I often forget that there are decent parents out there, I imagine the government do as well, or at least have no respect for them.

It cannot be easy to be a decent parent these days with all of these creeps in charge of tech.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 3 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

I let the algorithm choose when I'm playing music, up until it adds a 3 hour live performance to what 'til then had been 3 - 5 minute music videos

Otherwise it's just subscriptions

I think some people see the selection of subscriptions as too hard

[–] eremophila@lemmy.zip 1 points 5 hours ago

without setting it to subscriptions I get far too many trashtubers and right wing content

the music rabbit hole is still generally okay, but I feel it used to be better.