Chanel Contos is spearheading a new push to require social media platforms to offer an “opt-in” option to algorithms in a bid to prevent young boys and men falling into misogynistic spaces.
Contos, the founder of Teach Us Consent, launched the #FixOurFeeds campaign on Wednesday, calling on the Albanese government to introduce the opt-in feature for social media algorithms.
“Young boys and men seeking community and belonging are being systematically funneled into misogynistic online spaces,” Contos said in a video shared to social media.
“Research shows that boys and men are showing extreme misogynistic and harmful content within minutes of signing up to social media platforms.
“Dangerous trends to achieve unrealistic body standards, messaging describing women as property and the promotion of violence are infiltrating our screens. We’re now watching the consequences unfold offline.”
Teach Us Consent has also launched an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, asking his government to intervene on the issue. The letter comes just ahead of the implementation of the under-16s social media ban in Australia, a world-first policy.
“We urge the Government to require social media platforms to offer an option to “opt-in” to algorithms, giving us the autonomy to turn our algorithms on and off,” the letter states. “This is about informed and affirmative consent: control over our data and our feeds.”
“The European Union paved the way with an “opt-out” policy but this would be a world first, bringing genuine consent to our online experiences”.
The letter has been signed by a number of high-profile Australians including former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin, author and entrepreneur Zoë Foster Blake, and human rights barrister Jennifer Robinson.
Turnbull shared the video on his LinkedIn page.
In the video, Contos said the change would “make social media safer for everyone” by limiting unwanted exposure to hyper sexualised content, disinformation and other harmful material.
“We want the option to have algorithm free weekends at the click of a button,” she said.