Full Breakdown
Australia Mandates “My Feed, My Way” Algorithm Opt-Out
By Drooid · · How we work
Government Reform and Rationale
The Australian government announced a set of reforms that require social-media platforms to provide an opt-out option for algorithmic timelines, branding the change as “world-leading.” Officials and a range of experts have warned that algorithm-driven feeds can amplify dangerous or divisive material, pulling users into echo chambers and exposing them to extremist or harmful content such as far-right propaganda and eating-disorder imagery. The reforms are intended to give users control over whether their feeds are curated by artificial intelligence or limited to posts from accounts they follow.
One-Day Algorithm-Free Instagram Test
To gauge the practical impact of the new rule, a commentator disabled Instagram’s algorithm for a 24-hour period using a little-known setting that orders posts chronologically from followed accounts. The author trimmed roughly 100 accounts that were not personal acquaintances, leaving only friends, family, and a handful of local creators. The experiment began the same day the reforms were announced.
Feed Experience Without Algorithmic Curation
During the trial, the author encountered a rapid depletion of new content. After a short scrolling session, Instagram displayed a message indicating no new posts from followed accounts in the past 30 days, and the feed quickly reached an “End of following” screen. The remaining posts were largely dated—an older man summarising a TV show, a dachshund being petted with a spatula, and a novelty cake shaped like a fictional character. Although the feed still contained familiar categories—animals, food, and reality-TV gossip—the overall experience felt hollow and impersonal, with most activity limited to self-promotion rather than genuine social interaction. The author noted that only a mother and her friends continued to post lively personal updates.
Implications and Critiques
The personal test suggests that an algorithm-free timeline may drastically reduce the volume and variety of content, potentially encouraging users to disengage from the platform altogether. While the government’s intent is to curb the spread of harmful material, the experiment highlights a trade-off: limiting algorithmic recommendations can also strip feeds of fresh, diverse posts, leaving users with a sparse and sometimes unsatisfying experience. Critics may argue that the reform could push users toward complete social-media abstention, raising questions about how best to balance safety with engagement.