Source : Perth Now news
The Coalition has backed calls for Meta to publish its social media algorithms in a bid to force the tech giant to be more transparent with users about how it controls the content that they see.
X Corp, formerly Twitter, is currently the only social media giant that has published a major algorithm as open-source code, specifically for its “For You” recommendation system, while periodically providing code updates.
But an ongoing Senate inquiry – probing the government’s bolstered social media laws – had also heard “compelling evidence” for Meta to do the same, Liberal frontbencher Sarah Henderson told News24.
Senator Henderson argued on Sunday the federal government needed to take stronger action on the “dreaded algorithm, including publishing it” because of its ability to “drive harm”.
Making the code public would “show how choices work” online given the algorithm “drives” the content you watch online, she said.
“There’s certain rules that apply when you’re actually online … (but) there’s no transparency in relation to the algorithm from Meta, and other platforms,” Senator Henderson said.
“And of course, many parents just want to turn the algorithm off. They want Facebook (to be) the way it used to be, where they could just see content from their friends.
“So I think a lot of hard work needs to be done in that respect to give young people and all Australians greater choice as to what they see online.”
Senator Henderson’s comments come as Meta fights a landmark federal battle against a coalition of US states alleging that Facebook and Instagram have been designed in ways that harm the mental health of young users.
Meta denies the allegations and has been contacted for comment.
The Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee – tasked with scrutinising Labor’s Online Safety Amendment (Strengthening Enforcement for the Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2026 – is set to hand down its report on Tuesday.
The proposed changes would empower the eSafety Commissioner to compel documents from tech platforms to prove they are making reasonable efforts to stop under-16s from creating or accessing accounts.
It would also double the fine for noncompliance to $99m.
A raft of the world’s most popular social media platforms – including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube – have been banned for under 16s in Australia since December 10.
The laws followed a sustained lobbying effort by News Corp Australia and its Let Them Be Kids campaign.
University of Newcastle research found about 85 per cent of teenagers were still using social media three months into the ban.
More than half of these were using their own accounts.
The survey comprised 408 teenagers between 12 to 17 years old.
