Social media reform should consider SMEs, Cosboa warns

Harry Booth

15th Sep 2026

The Australian government is debating a new raft of reforms to social media algorithms that, if introduced, would allow users to have greater control over their own algorithms.

But the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (Cosboa) warns that it shouldn’t come at the expense of small businesses.

“For many small businesses, social media and digital platforms are how new customers find them,” said Cosboa CEO Skye Cappuccio

“A cafe, retailer, tradesperson or service provider may not have a large marketing budget or in-house digital team. Their ability to appear in a customer’s feed, search results or recommendations can be central to how they attract business.”

Cappuccio welcomed the intent of the reforms to improve online safety and experience.

“Before the final model is settled, we need to understand what it could mean for small business visibility, customer acquisition and ultimately revenue,” she added.

Cosboa pledged to review the draft proposal and consult with its members before producing a formal response.

“Small business needs to be genuinely consulted throughout this process, including as the detailed mechanisms for how these choices will work are developed,” Cappuccio said.

“We need to avoid unintended consequences where platforms respond to new obligations through blunt enforcement measures that wrongly suspend, restrict or de-rank legitimate small businesses.

“Online safety is an important objective. The task now is to make sure this is delivered without inadvertently making it harder for Australia’s small businesses to reach customers and operate online.”

• This story was originally published on Inside Small Business.