Moved by Councillor Arkins, seconded by
Councillor Gannon –
It is resolved that:
(A)
Council
note:
(i)
social media platforms increasingly rely on
algorithmic recommender systems that determine what content users see based on
their behaviour, interests and engagement
(ii)
these systems
are designed to maximise engagement and can amplify
content that provokes strong emotional responses, including outrage, fear and
anger
(iii)
in December 2025, Australian consent education organisation Teach Us Consent launched the Fix Our Feeds
campaign, calling on the Australian Government to require social media
platforms to make personalised algorithmic feeds opt-in rather than
the default
(iv)
under the
proposal, social media users would by default see content from people and
accounts they have chosen to follow, with users able to actively consent to turning personalised algorithmic
recommendations on or off
(v)
Teach Us Consent has highlighted the particular impact of recommender algorithms on young men and
boys, including research finding that social media accounts designed to mimic
boys aged 16 to 18 can be served misogynistic content within 23 minutes
(vi)
73% of Gen Z social media users surveyed have
reported seeing misogynistic content online, while 78% of Australians surveyed
believe social media users should have greater control over the content they
see
(vii)
algorithmic amplification can expose users to misogyny,
racism, homophobia, harmful body image and eating disorder content,
misinformation and other material that can contribute to social isolation,
division and harm
(viii)
the Fix Our
Feeds campaign applies the principle of affirmative and informed consent to our
digital lives, recognising that people should have
genuine choice over whether their behaviour and data
are used to determine the content they are shown
(ix)
on 2 September 2026, Teach Us Consent founder and CEO
Chanel Contos addressed the National Press Club calling for the Australian
Government to adopt an opt-in model for social media algorithms
(x)
the Australian Government is currently considering
reforms to give Australians greater control over algorithmically recommended
content as part of its development of a digital duty of care for online
platforms
(xi)
creating safer online environments, reducing
gender-based violence and misogyny, supporting the wellbeing of young people and
strengthening social cohesion are important issues for communities across the
City of Sydney
(B)
Council:
(i)
endorse Teach Us Consent’s Fix Our Feeds campaign
and its call for social media algorithms to be opt-in rather than enabled by
default
(ii)
support the principle that social media users
should have genuine and informed control over whether they receive personalised algorithmic content
(C)
the
Lord Mayor be requested to write to the Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese
MP, Minister for Social Services and Member for Sydney, the Hon Tanya Plibersek
MP and the Minister for Communications, the Hon Anika Wells MP:
(i)
advising them of Council’s endorsement of the Fix
Our Feeds campaign
(ii)
expressing Council’s support for an opt-in model
for social media algorithms
(iii)
urging the Australian Government to include strong
measures giving users genuine control over algorithmically recommended content
in digital duty of care reforms
(D)
the Lord
Mayor be requested to write to the Premier, the Hon
Chris Minns MP, Attorney General, the Hon Michael Daley MP and Minister for the
Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, the Hon Jodie Harrison MP:
(i)
advising them of Council’s endorsement of the Fix
Our Feeds campaign
(ii)
expressing Council’s support for an opt-in model
for social media algorithms
(iii)
urging the NSW Government to also advocate to the
Commonwealth to give social media users genuine control over algorithmically
recommended content in digital duty of care reforms.
Carried unanimously.
X113758