Instagram boss says users will be ‘overwhelmed’ with brand content in algorithm-free world

10 September 2026 at 03:10

Adam Mosseri says platform’s algorithm ‘feels like a black box’ but company trying to give users more control after Labor announces opt-out plan

Instagram’s chief executive has said users will have a worse experience in an algorithm-free world, seeing more brand-related content, and spend less time on the app.

The comments come as the Australian government plans to give users the option to opt out of algorithms, with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, announcing plans on Tuesday to require social media platforms to prompt users to choose between a feed of algorithm-recommended content or a reverse chronological feed of the pages users follow. Labor also plans to introduce a range of measures designed to address online harm on the sites.

Social media users could opt out of the algorithm if Australian government has its way – but that’s a big if

The Guardian - Technology

By: Josh Taylor

8 September 2026 at 07:23

Even if the legislation passes, tech companies may still find ways to frustrate its intent and keep Australians hooked on their feed

Social media could become a “choose your own adventure” between the doom-scrolling status quo, or just the feed of the friends you want to see, if the government’s planned digital duty of care legislation passes, and the tech companies don’t muck around on compliance.

But that’s a big if.

This man was secretly snapped by someone with smartglasses. He’s not alone in calling that a violation of privacy

The Guardian - Technology

By: Josh Taylor Technology reporter

7 August 2026 at 16:00

The backlash to what some dub ‘pervert glasses’ is growing – but people living with disabilities point out the new tech can also be life-changing

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One summer day earlier this year, Rhys left a cafe in Melbourne where he had been working remotely, when his phone pinged with a message on the dating app Grindr.

The message was a photo of him sitting at a table outside the cafe on his laptop, with his dog seated on the ground next to him. In the foreground, in a man’s hand was an iPhone unlocked.

When the AI bubble bursts, what will Australia do with the tools it built? One man thinks he has the answer

The Guardian - Technology

By: Josh Taylor Technology reporter

26 July 2026 at 16:00

Journalist and author Cory Doctorow is coming to Australia to spread his message – humans will take their jobs back

When the AI bubble bursts, executives who enthusiastically replaced their staff with AI tools will learn that it takes a “really long time” to replace those lost skills, says Cory Doctorow, a science fiction author and journalist.

But those in creative fields should also be warned not to put all their faith in copyright as the best way to safeguard their work, Doctorow warns, just one week after the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, promised to ramp up protection against AI companies who refuse to pay.

Labor to set terms for datacentre and AI growth as it vows not to repeat mistakes of resources boom

The Guardian - Energy

By: Josh Taylor and Petra Stock

11 June 2026 at 05:27

Assistant minister agrees concerns over resource usage are legitimate but argues Australia cannot ignore ‘consequential’ economic wave

Australia should learn from the mistakes of the resources boom and set the terms for the AI and datacentres boom, the assistant minister for the digital economy, Andrew Charlton says.

Growth in datacentres has exploded in the past two years, Charlton told the Sydney Institute on Wednesday night, with 44 projects in the pipeline in New South Wales alone seeking 11GW of capacity on the electricity grid.

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