#content moderator

Or Protecting Civil Rights

By: Ki Lov3 Editor: Toni Gelardi © Feb 6, 2025

While some argue that content moderation restricts free speech, it actually serves as a safeguard—reinforcing civil rights and equality, just as hate crime laws protect individuals in physical spaces. In society, laws are in place to prevent hate crimes and protect vulnerable groups from discrimination because they recognize that certain speech and actions cause harm. If we protect people from hate-fueled attacks in real life, why should we allow them online, where harm can be even more severe? Social media has become a central part of public discourse, shaping conversations, movements, and opinions, but it has also made it possible for hate speech, harassment, and misinformation to spread.

Cyberbullying and hate speech are linked to increased depression, anxiety, and self-harm. A study from the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that victims of online harassment are more than twice as likely to engage in self-harm or suicidal behaviors compared to those who are not targeted. Unlike in-person bullying, online harassment is persistent, anonymous, and amplified, often making it inescapable.

Increased rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm have been connected to hate speech and cyberbullying. A study from the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that victims of online harassment are more than twice as likely to engage in self-harm or suicidal behaviors compared to those who are not targeted. Unlike in-person bullying, online harassment is persistent, anonymous, and amplified, often making it inescapable.

Why Moderation is Not Censorship

Just as businesses can deny service to abusive customers, social media companies have the right—and obligation—to moderate harmful content. This does not silence opinions; rather, it ensures that discussions remain inclusive. Without it, hate speech and harassment push marginalized voices out of public discourse. True free speech necessitates an environment where people can engage without fear of abuse. Free speech laws prevent the government from suppressing speech, not private platforms from enforcing policies to create a safer environment.

Effective moderation should:

Apply rules consistently to all users.

Focus on harm reduction, not suppressing debate.

Be developed with input from civil rights experts.

Include an appeals process to ensure fairness.

I was totally psyched to finally see Mikhail Red’s Deleter on Amazon Prime because I missed its regular theater run last December due to COVID. I must admit that I raised my expectations a bit because it dominated the Metro Manila Film Festival in 2022 and received rave reviews from critics. Moral lesson: I should have managed by expectations better. Synopsis: Lyra (Nadine Lustre) works as a…

Don’t delete the dead

The movie revolves around the life of Lyra (Nadine Lustre) , an online content moderator whose job is to remove posts or contents from social media. Her job involves a huge risk of watching graphic videos she has to filter from the Internet – videos that shows disturbing images of murders, holdups and suicide on a daily basis.

Lyra remains undisturbed despite seeing many violent imageries until such time that a dark presence , who turns out to be the spirit of her deceased co-worker Aileen (Louise Delos Reyes) starts stalking her after being questioned by her “bosses” about Aileen’s mysterious death.

“Deleter” centralizes on the dark truth or sides of being a “content moderator” and the possible trauma they face on a daily basis as they had to filter video contents depicting disturbing images like murder, terrorism, suicide and the likes.

What I Liked About The Movie

I must say that the director did a marvelous job in making this movie as it lets the viewers learn the pros and cons of being a content moderator on social media.

What I also liked is the part where the movie showed Lyra during her younger years (played by Elia Ilano).

What I Didn’t Like About The Movie

There are also parts that I didn’t like about the movie such as seeing disturbing or gory images of death, suicide, crimes, terrorism and the things we would often see on social media on a daily basis. That was why I would cover my face whenever disturbing or horrifying images would be shown.

Insights Just right after watching the movie, I’ve learned and seen how content moderators in real life struggle on a daily basis as they go on their work and how it takes a toll on their mental health (as seen in Nadine Lustre’s character in the movie).

Sometimes, or most of the times, content moderators don’t receive the support they need for their mental health which is another ugly truth (which is a must as they are susceptible or prone to mental health disorders, given what their job description is).

Source:

“What is a content moderator? What Do They Do? How To Become One? by Ralitsa Golemanova from Imagga; https://imagga.com/blog/what-is-a-content-moderator/

The Hidden Consequences of Moderating Social Media’s Dark Side” by Jonathan Crossfield” from Content Marketing Institute ; https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/cco-digital/july-2019/social-media-moderators-stress/

Facebook running a 21st century version of sweatshops as contractors keel over dead, others fear for their livelihood

By J. D. Heyes

(NationalSentinel) In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many small tenement apartments inhabited by European immigrants often doubled as workplaces and living spaces. There, men and women toiled away as contractors for larger corporations, churning out clothing, parts, and other products.

Wages were low and hours were long, but because they were immigrants and were trying to make…