Australia is working on new laws that could change how we use social media. If these rules pass, apps would have to give users a way to turn off their 'algorithms.'

An algorithm is a computer program that looks at what you like and then picks the posts it thinks you will look at most. These apps do this to keep you scrolling for as long as possible. Many critics argue this can be harmful, especially for young people.

Adam Mosseri, who runs Instagram, recently said that a simple list of posts in the order they were shared—called a chronological feed—is 'much worse' for users. He thinks the computer-picked feed is better because it shows people what they are interested in. However, critics disagree. They say these computer choices are designed to keep us hooked, not to help us.

Australia is trying to fix this by giving people the power to choose how their feed looks. The country is even facing some criticism from the White House over these changes, but leaders in Australia say their relationship with the U.S. is still strong.

We already have a bit of a preview of how this works. The Netherlands recently forced Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, to give users a choice to turn off these smart feeds.

So, what happens if you turn it off? Usually, the app just shows you posts from the people you follow, sorted by time, with the newest ones at the top. You won't see as many random suggestions or ads that are picked specifically for you.

Supporters of the law say this will make social media less addictive. Tech companies argue that it might make the apps less fun to use. For now, the debate continues over whether we should be in charge of what we see, or if the machines know best.

Source: 9to5google.com