As the Australian Government proposes giving social media users greater control over algorithmically curated feeds, new research from YouGov reveals a clear divide in Australians’ views on algorithmic recommendations.
Nearly half (48%) say they would choose to turn off algorithmic recommendations on social media if given the option, compared with 31% who would keep them switched on.
Gen Z are more inclined to keep algorithmic recommendations on. More than half (54%) say they would keep them switched on, compared with 39% of Millennials.
For Australians who would switch recommendations off, having greater control over what they see and preventing platforms from deciding which content is prioritised are the leading reasons, cited by 50% each. Nearly half (47% each) also say they would want to see more content from people and accounts they have chosen to follow and fewer unwanted or irrelevant posts.
The reasons also differ by generation. More than half (54%) of Gen Z who would turn recommendations off say they would do so because it would make social media less addictive. Millennials, meanwhile, are most likely to say they would switch them off to see more content from people they follow (54%).
Why some want to keep it on
For Australians who would keep algorithmic recommendations switched on, the biggest attraction is relevance: 48% say they would do so to see content relevant to their interests. This rises to 53% among Gen X.
Other reasons include discovering content, accounts or interests they would not have found themselves (43%), making social media more entertaining or engaging (36%), and saving time spent searching for content or managing their account (35%).
Could opting out cut social media use?
The findings also indicate that removing algorithmic recommendations could affect how much time Australians spend on social media. More than one in three (36%) say they would spend less time on social media without algorithmic recommendations — rising to 55% among Gen Z.
Only 12% say they would spend a lot more time on social media without algorithmic recommendations, although this rises to 16% among Gen Z.
Will Australians trust the opt-out to stick?
Australians are also divided over whether platforms would consistently honour an algorithm opt-out. Nearly half (45%) say they are not confident that social media platforms would honour the choice over time, compared with 32% who are confident.
Gen Z are again more positive, with 51% saying they are confident platforms would honour the opt-out.
Methodology: YouGov Surveys: Serviced provides quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. The findings are based on responses from 1052 Australian adults, collected between 14 and 16 September 2026.