Content moderation

Content moderation is the review and enforcement of rules governing material shared on a communication platform. It can combine automated systems, human judgment, and user reports.

Community guidelines: Rules that define acceptable content and conduct within an online community. They state the standards moderators apply to content and behavior.
Online harassment: Abusive or threatening conduct directed at people through digital communication channels. Rules often target harassment while distinguishing it from criticism or disagreement.
Pre-publication review: A process that evaluates material before it becomes publicly available. It contrasts with systems that review most user content only after publication.
Commercial content moderation: The review of online content by paid workers employed directly or indirectly by platforms. It exposes the labor behind enforcement at large communication services.
Content moderation at scale: The governance and enforcement of content rules across services with very large user populations and content volumes. Scale strains consistent review, timely response, and meaningful appeals.
User reporting: A process through which users flag content or behavior for platform review. Reports bring potentially harmful material to moderators’ attention.
Hate speech: Expression that attacks or demeans people based on traits such as race, religion, or national origin. Platforms must define which forms of hateful expression their rules prohibit.
Post-publication moderation: Review and enforcement applied after content has been published. It allows immediate sharing but leaves harmful material visible until action occurs.
Trust and safety: The practices and institutions that reduce abuse and risk in digital services. Content moderation is one operational part of this broader platform function.
Platform governance: The rules, institutions, and processes through which digital platforms are controlled and held accountable. Moderation raises broader questions about private power over public communication.

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