Meta faces mounting political pressure to publish its social media algorithms as Liberal frontbencher Sarah Henderson backs calls for algorithmic transparency to combat online harm, according to recent Senate inquiry evidence. This push coincides with an ongoing federal battle in the United States over youth mental health impacts and strict Australian social media minimum age laws.
Senate Inquiry Hears Calls for Meta Algorithm Transparency
Federal lawmakers are increasing scrutiny on major technology platforms regarding how content reaches users. According to Liberal frontbencher Sarah Henderson, an ongoing Senate inquiry has heard compelling evidence that Meta needs to follow X Corp by publishing its recommendation code. Senator Henderson argued on Sunday that the federal government must take stronger action against opaque content systems because algorithms actively drive harm.
X Corp, formerly known as Twitter, remains the only major social media giant to publish a major algorithm as open-source code for its “For You” recommendation system, providing periodic updates. In contrast, Senator Henderson noted that Meta and other platforms offer zero transparency into their content-shaping logic. Many parents just want to turn the algorithm off. They want Facebook (to be) the way it used to be, where they could just see content from their friends.
Did you know? X Corp is currently the only major social media company that has published a major recommendation algorithm as open-source code for its “For You” recommendation system.
Global Legal Battles and Australian Regulatory Crackdowns
Meta is currently fighting a landmark federal lawsuit brought by a coalition of US states, which alleges that Facebook and Instagram are intentionally designed to harm the mental health of young users. Meta denies these allegations.
Meanwhile, the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee is scheduled to hand down its report on Labor’s Online Safety Amendment (Strengthening Enforcement for the Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2026. According to the proposed legislative changes, the eSafety Commissioner would gain powers to compel documents from tech companies proving reasonable compliance efforts regarding under-16 account creation. Noncompliance fines would also double to $99 million.
Teen Social Media Usage Under the Ban
Australia enacted a strict social media ban covering platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube for users under 16, following lobbying efforts by News Corp Australia and its Let Them Be Kids campaign. However, University of Newcastle research reveals ongoing usage despite the restrictions.
According to a survey of 408 teenagers aged 12 to 17, approximately 85 per cent of teenagers continued using social media three months after the ban took effect. Furthermore, more than half of those surveyed reported using their own personal accounts to access the platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which social media platform has published its algorithm?
X Corp is the only major social media platform that has published its “For You” recommendation algorithm as open-source code.
What are the proposed changes to Australia’s social media laws?
The Online Safety Amendment Bill 2026 empowers the eSafety Commissioner to compel documents from platforms and doubles noncompliance fines to $99 million.
How many teenagers continued using social media after the Australian ban?
University of Newcastle research found that about 85 per cent of teenagers surveyed were still using social media three months into the ban.
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