The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is examining social media services as part of its five-year inquiry into digital platform services.

Social media services are online services that allow users (both individual consumers and businesses) to participate in social networking, communicate with other users, and share and consume content generated by other users (including professional publishers). Social media services generally display content for consumption as linear ‘feeds’, curated by algorithms or displayed chronologically.

Social media services are provided by digital platforms, known as social media platforms. Many Australian businesses (including not-for-profit and government-funded organisations) maintain an online presence on social media services. Social media is also an important service for which advertisers purchase different types of advertising (including display advertising and influencer advertising).

The ACCC is looking to understand the potential competition and consumer protection issues that matter most to consumers, businesses and advertisers in Australia.

The ACCC invites submissions on the matters outlined in this paper by 9 September 2022.