What might turning off the algorithm look like? Chinese social media provides some hints

Key points

• The Albanese government has introduced digital duty of care legislation to parliament. The bill would let social media users opt out of recommender algorithms and view a feed of only the accounts they follow.
• The model resembles the feed used by WeChat in China for more than a decade. Researchers say that feed has not removed competition for attention.
• Publishers there still publish fast, often with low-quality content, and they say the same could happen in Australia if users opt out. They also argue the approach shifts responsibility onto individuals rather than the companies that run the platforms.