A new Guardian podcast features Chanel Contos, an Australian campaigner in her mid-20s. She is pushing for social media users to be able to scroll without algorithms choosing what they see.
Contos first became known for founding Teach Us Consent, which campaigned to put consent education into the national school curriculum. Now she argues that social media algorithms help drive a rise in teenage sexual abuse.
Her campaign has helped shape a bill that would make it much easier to use social media without algorithm-curated feeds. It has drawn opposition from some in Australia and from the Trump administration.
🔍 The Backstory
Algorithms are computer programs that decide which posts you see, based on what keeps you watching. Critics say they can push harmful content to young people for attention and money.
Australia has led the world in regulating tech, including a ban on social media for under-16s. The new bill aims to give users more control over their feeds.
Contos's earlier group, Teach Us Consent, gathered thousands of testimonies and changed how schools teach consent.
🎯 Why It Matters
Algorithms shape what millions of young people see every day. A simple switch to turn them off could give users back control over their own feeds.
A new Guardian podcast features Chanel Contos, an Australian campaigner in her mid-20s. She is pushing for social media users to be able to scroll without algorithms choosing what they see.
Contos first became known for founding Teach Us Consent, which campaigned to put consent education into the national school curriculum. Now she argues that social media algorithms help drive a rise in teenage sexual abuse.
Her campaign has helped shape a bill that would make it much easier to use social media without algorithm-curated feeds. It has drawn opposition from some in Australia and from the Trump administration.
Algorithms are computer programs that decide which posts you see, based on what keeps you watching. Critics say they can push harmful content to young people for attention and money.
Australia has led the world in regulating tech, including a ban on social media for under-16s. The new bill aims to give users more control over their feeds.
Contos's earlier group, Teach Us Consent, gathered thousands of testimonies and changed how schools teach consent.
Algorithms shape what millions of young people see every day. A simple switch to turn them off could give users back control over their own feeds.