Content Moderation Best Practices: Tips from Industry Experts

Based on a 2023 Statista report, the internet had a global user base of 5.3 billion people, making up 65.7 percent of the world's population. This only means that the more people use various online platforms, the more content should be reviewed, managed, and regulated.

The increasing volume of user-generated content (UGC) has sparked both incredible opportunities and significant challenges. While digital spaces allow individuals to express themselves, connect with others, and share diverse perspectives, they also bring forth complications that demand careful consideration and responsible management. Content moderation is key to managing the content shared across various platforms.

But how does content moderation really work?

The content moderation process, at its core, involves monitoring, reviewing, and managing UGC across digital platforms to ensure it adheres to community rules and guidelines. 

Content moderators are responsible for creating and maintaining a safe, enjoyable, and positive digital environment. They also use content moderation tools to automate or fast-track the process, making moderation more efficient and effective. 

Content moderation services are crucial in keeping the digital space secure and respectful. Millions of people share their ideas, stories, images, and videos daily, given the widespread use of social media, forums, and other platforms. This is where content moderation comes into play to ensure these platforms remain welcoming and safe for users of all ages.

Implementing robust content moderation solutions helps prevent the spread of inappropriate content. This can include content that exhibits violence, harassment, discrimination, and other forms of misconduct. By monitoring and removing such content, platforms can protect their users from exposure to harmful influences and maintain a more positive online community. 

The importance of effective content moderation goes beyond just maintaining a safe online environment; it positively impacts the overall health and well-being of every user on various platforms. A carefully moderated platform fosters a sense of community and encourages individuals to express themselves without any fear of encountering harmful content.

To effectively monitor UGC across online platforms, let’s explore the content moderation best practices, shall we?

Understanding the Landscape

It’s the golden age of content as evidenced by the millions of content posted daily on several online platforms. As the amount and diversity of online content continue to expand, content moderators find themselves at the forefront of maintaining a delicate balance. 

The duties and expertise of a content moderator significantly contribute to maintaining a safe and remarkable digital space that allows individuals to exercise their creative freedom. Although they strive to ensure online spaces' integrity, safety, and inclusivity, their responsibilities become heavier.

Considering that content moderators have the power to detect, determine, and decide whether UGC complies with guidelines, their decisions hold significant consequences and challenges:

• Subjectivity in Content Evaluation

Determining what content is acceptable or is against guidelines can vary based on individual perspectives, cultural differences, and social norms. This subjectivity introduces decision-making complexities, requiring moderators to navigate diverse viewpoints while adhering to platform standards.

• High Volume of Content

Content moderators should be able to review a large number of UGC efficiently and accurately. This high volume can lead to fatigue and potential oversight, emphasizing the need for efficient moderation strategies and the intervention of user generated content moderation.

• Balancing Freedom of Expression and Safety

Content moderators do their best to keep the balance between advocating freedom of expression and preventing the dissemination of harmful content, misinformation, and hate speech, among others.

• Adapting to Evolving Tactics

The evolving nature of strategies used by cybercriminals to spread misinformation, engage in bullying, or promote harmful activities necessitates moderators to stay informed, update their guidelines, and refine their moderation techniques to effectively address emerging challenges in the digital space.

Key Components of Effective Content Moderation

A. Clear Content Guidelines

The first step to effective content moderation is to set clear, concise, and detailed guidelines that are easily understandable by moderators and users. The guidelines should indicate which actions or materials are acceptable, appropriate, safe, and relevant. Otherwise, unmoderated posts can affect other users, exposing them to explicit, abusive, and offensive content.

Make content guidelines accessible for users through a dedicated section or link. Also, consider translating them into different languages to enhance inclusivity and reach a more extensive audience. 

Since these rules and standards differ depending on the nature and purpose of a particular platform, the following are only typical examples of clear community guidelines: 

• Respectful Language

Use language that is considerate and respectful towards other users.

• No Harassment

Do not engage in any form of harassment, bullying, or intimidation. Treat everyone with kindness, empathy, and respect.

• Appropriate Content

Only share content that is suitable for all audiences. 

• No Hate Speech

Do not promote hate speech or discriminatory comments based on factors like race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.

• Authenticity

Embody authenticity during interactions. Do not impersonate others, spread false information, and create fake profiles.

• Constructive Criticism

When providing feedback, ensure it is constructive, valuable, and respectful. Avoid using personal attacks or giving unsolicited comments.

B. Proactive Moderation

Proactive moderation is an effective strategy that involves anticipating and handling issues before they escalate. Instead of addressing problems only after they arise, proactive moderation focuses on preventing negative situations by:

• Implementing Automated Tools

Automated tools can analyze content and flag or remove those materials that violate community guidelines. Human moderators can leverage automation for efficient response and resolution to content violations.

• Monitoring User Behavior Patterns

By observing and tracking behavior patterns, moderators can detect red flags ahead of time. Some of the behavioral patterns that can be addressed early on include persistent cyberbullying, targeted online harassment, and even duplicate listings in various marketplaces. 

C. Timely Response

Setting response time standards is crucial for effective content moderation in a way that establishes clear expectations for addressing user concerns promptly. Defining specific timeframes within which the moderation team should respond to reports or inquiries helps maintain an efficient and effective content moderation process. 

For instance, you are scrolling through a social media platform but come across a discriminating post. So, you report that post. After a few minutes, you receive a message saying, “Hi there! We’ll let you know when we’ve reviewed the post you reported. If it goes against one of our community guidelines, we’ll remove it or directly coordinate with the user who posted it.” In this scenario,  implementation of social media content moderation is crucial.

Indeed, timely responses are a big help in achieving user satisfaction and earning their trust. Such responses demonstrate accountability and a promise of promptness. 

Moreover, handling the most pressing issues first helps create a smoother and more organized workflow. The same goes for content moderators addressing urgent matters towards an efficient moderation process. Prioritizing urgent cases allows content moderators to respond promptly to critical situations that pose an immediate risk to users and the overall community. This way, they protect users from harm and maintain a safe online environment.

Collaboration and Communication

A. Interdepartmental Coordination

Working with legal and compliance teams is essential in content moderation. The legal team ensures that content removal aligns with laws and regulations and prevents any legal complications. Simultaneously, the compliance team ensures that the content moderation process adheres to internal policies and industry standards to maintain a consistent and ethical approach. 

Such coordination helps create an effective content moderation system that addresses legal requirements and internal standards.

So, when selecting a content moderation outsourcing provider, ensure they adhere to data protection regulations and possess robust security measures to safeguard your business’ sensitive and confidential data. A reliable service provider helps preserve your company's reputation and integrity.

Additionally, working closely with the customer support team helps address user-related concerns and gives a more comprehensive understanding of user experiences. If an online platform caters to users globally, collaborating with multilingual customer support providers is recommended to allow more efficient communication. 

These departments can collectively identify UGC patterns, trends, and challenges by sharing and exchanging insights. 

B. User Education, Empowerment, and Transparent Communication

• Notification of Content Removal

When content is flagged and taken down due to violating community guidelines, users should receive a notification explaining the specific policy breach. Informing and communicating with users about content removal is a best practice emphasizing transparency and respect for the platform's community. This ensures they know the reasons behind the removal and promotes openness, allowing them to understand the platform's standards.

• Educating Users on Reporting Mechanisms

Educate and empower users to understand how to report inappropriate images, videos, profiles, and the like. This education enables them to contribute to the platform's safety by flagging content that violates community guidelines. 

Say, a user encounters a profile pretending to be someone else. In such cases, guiding users to report fake profiles is essential. This is where profile moderation comes into play to ensure the authenticity and trustworthiness of user identities across platforms. 

• Promoting Responsible Online Behavior

Encouraging users to report violations helps them behave accordingly and become responsible and active protectors of the digital environment they share with others. They are influenced to keep a watchful eye on suspicious content and promptly report any violations they encounter.

Leveraging Technology: The Role of AI in Content Moderation

Although content moderation traditionally relied on human efforts, the continuous improvement of artificial intelligence (AI) has played an essential role in content moderation. Regular updates and refinements to AI algorithms allow for a more adaptive, efficient, and relevant response to emerging challenges in online content. These challenges include the latest trends and tactics cybercriminals use. Hence, the debate between automated moderation and human content moderation.

Automation involves using AI tools to identify and assess content based on predefined rules quickly. 

While automation provides scalability in handling large volumes of content, human moderation adds nuanced understanding and emotional intelligence to complex cases. Human moderators use their judgment to discern and evaluate the context and intent of user-generated content. 

Overall, the best approach is the combination of AI and human moderation, as they enhance the speed, scalability, reliability, and effectiveness of content moderation. 

Industry Expert Insights

Content moderation experts and professionals work tirelessly to keep the digital space safe and positive while allowing users to express themselves freely. Their experiences, continuous training, and skills development help them learn from the challenges they encountered while moderating content. They provide valuable insights that contribute to refining content moderation strategies and staying updated on emerging trends and online risks. 

Additionally, considering the kinds of content—violent, disturbing, explicit—they have to go through, wellness programs and psychological support are crucial for protecting the overall well-being of content moderators.

Sculpting Safe Digital Spaces with Content Moderation 

In a nutshell, content moderation is vital in managing the ever-changing and increasing volume of UGC. It ensures the safety of users, maintains the reputation of digital platforms, and facilitates compliance with legal standards.

Keeping in mind these content moderation best practices will help you manage UGC more effectively. In your journey of creating a positive and inclusive online experience, consider outsourcing content moderation services to Chekkee!

Chekkee takes human-powered and AI content moderation to the next level. We strive to provide exceptional content moderation services essential in cultivating a safe online community while ensuring your brand’s positive reputation.

Our content moderation services aim to analyze vast amounts of data and detect, evaluate, and flag content not aligned with your brand. 

Contact our team today and see how our content moderation services can make a difference to your brand!