Australia Targets ‘Endless Feeds’, FOMO in Tweak to Under-16 Social Media Ban

New regulations target addictive algorithms rather than simply naming platforms, but the Free Speech Union says this will only cause confusion.
Australia Targets ‘Endless Feeds’, FOMO in Tweak to Under-16 Social Media Ban
Social media apps are displayed on a phone screen in a photo illustration on Dec. 1, 2024. Roni Bintang/Getty Images
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The federal government has moved to tighten its under-16 social media now defining the algorithms that drive engagement and addiction like “endless” scrolling and content recommendations based on user history.

Communications Minister Anika Wells says the change will “provide greater clarity” on which platforms are captured under Australia’s world-leading ban beyond well known platforms like Facebook or TikTok.

Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
Author
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.