Across the internet, Content Moderators work tirelessly behind the scenes to protect people from harmful and disturbing content. They maintain the safety and integrity of online platforms and form a vital part of how digital communities function.
The work carried out by Content Moderators has become important as data creation grows at a rapid pace. Comprehensive wellness programs for this group are essential because of the demands they face each day.
As of 2025, an estimated 402.74 quintillion bytes of data are created every day. This sheer volume of content, ranging from social media content to emails and blog comments, requires constant vigilance.
The work of Content Moderators involves daily exposure to some of the darkest aspects of human behavior. They must make rapid decisions on a wide range of content.
This includes text-based harms like hate speech and mis- and disinformation as well as graphic and disturbing imagery, such as extremist violence and CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material).
On top of this, they are paid modest wages and face a relentless stream of disturbing content, leading to considerable mental health challenges.
What are the Mental Health Challenges Faced by Content Moderators?
The mental health implications for Content Moderators are profound. Continuous exposure to harmful content can lead to the development of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), characterized by symptoms like flashbacks, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the events they’ve witnessed indirectly.
Content Moderators’ mental health may also be affected by secondary traumatic stress (STS) and compassion fatigue, conditions that develop from repeated indirect exposure to trauma.
They may also experience high levels of depression and anxiety, which can show up as sleep disturbances, emotional numbness, or persistent feelings of sadness. Effective strategies for emotional wellness for online moderators are vital in this context.
Vicarious Trauma and Secondary Traumatic Stress
Ongoing exposure and the repetitive nature of viewing such content can lead to a phenomenon known as Vicarious Traumatization (VT). In VT, individuals develop trauma-related symptoms after indirect exposure to traumatic material. Moderators who continue in this work while experiencing VT face a heightened risk of long-term damage to their mental health.
Essential Support Systems for Content Moderators
Prolonged exposure without adequate mental health support can lead to enduring psychological issues, underscoring the necessity of timely intervention and comprehensive mental health care strategies in these workplaces.
When Standard Support Isn’t Enough
You’re reviewing this quarter’s employee survey results, and three Content Moderators have flagged concerns about sleep disturbances and persistent anxiety. Two more have requested extended time off, citing stress.
You know your team reviews thousands of pieces of harmful content daily, but until now, your organization has only offered a standard EAP line that few people call.
You need to decide if you should recommend dedicated mental health resources, specialized trauma therapy, or a complete overhaul of your wellbeing program before more team members burn out or leave.
Employee Assistance Programs and Clinical Access
Organizations can provide content moderation support through Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), which offer confidential counseling support for Content Moderators and access to mental health professionals. These programs typically include 24/7 counseling services via phone or chat, along with on-site psychologists for immediate support.
Peer Support and Resilience Training
Some of the most common support systems available for Content Moderators are:
- Peer Support Groups: Facilitates sharing experiences and coping strategies among moderators handling social media content.
- Mental Health Resources: Access to psychologists and counselors specializing in trauma and stress management.
- Stress Management Programs: Workshops and training sessions on effective stress reduction techniques.
- Resilience Training: Programs designed to build mental resilience and coping mechanisms for dealing with graphic content.
- Workplace Wellness Programs: Comprehensive initiatives focusing on physical and mental health, including regular mental health screenings and support services.
Managing Psychosocial Hazards and Stress
The publication of the ISO 45003 guideline highlights the significance of psychosocial hazards associated with disturbing content and working conditions in workplace moderation services, particularly in fields like content moderation, which inherently pose risks to psychological health.
Identifying Specific Workplace Hazards
Content moderation work involves unique psychosocial hazards, including high job demands, exposure to distressing content, and challenges in workplace relationships and organizational change. Recognizing these hazards is the first step towards mitigating their impact on moderators’ mental health.
Risk Reduction Strategies
While it’s challenging to eliminate these hazards completely, risk reduction is essential. Employers should evaluate workloads and provide adequate support to moderators to manage the volume of content and associated stress. Regular risk assessments should include identifying hazards, evaluating risks, and implementing preventive actions.
Implementing Preventative Wellbeing Interventions
Preventative wellbeing interventions help address these risks before they cause harm. This includes mental health literacy training during onboarding, awareness sessions on potential mental health risks, and practical training on healthy coping strategies. Proactive interventions of this kind prepare moderators for the demands of their work and support their wellbeing over time.
Lifecycle Support for Content Moderator Wellbeing
Content Moderators play a central part in shaping digital wellbeing, so organizations need a holistic and proactive approach to support their mental health at every stage of their careers.
This commitment reflects a clear ethical responsibility and also supports the sustainability and effectiveness of content moderation as a key function in the digital environment.
Recruitment – Screening for Resilience And Fit
Before onboarding, the recruitment process can help set prospective moderators up for success. Transparency in job specifications is essential. Organizations should provide clear and accurate descriptions of the position, including potential challenges and the nature of the content to be moderated.
Psychological screening and pre-employment resilience assessments can help identify candidates who are suited to the demands of content moderation work. Screening processes should be structured and consistent so that candidates can make informed decisions about the work.
During the screening and interview stages, it is important to explain the wellbeing resources available and make it clear that engaging with these services is an integral part of maintaining their mental health. This upfront communication sets realistic expectations and prepares new hires for the nature of their work.
Onboarding – Establishing a Foundation of Care
The work of a Content Moderator begins with comprehensive preparation. The onboarding process should go beyond functional orientation and introduce moderators to the mental health resources and support systems in place. This early focus on mental wellbeing sets the tone for their time in the organization and highlights a clear commitment to their health from the start.
Recognizing the challenges faced by new hires, organizations should emphasize the importance of regular check-ins and group interventions during the initial phase of employment. These measures help build resilience and a sense of community among moderators and support new team members as they adapt to the demands of their work.
In-Production Support – Exposure Management and Rotation
As Content Moderators take on full workloads, organizations need to provide ongoing, structured support. This includes strategies to manage exposure limits by rotating content types across different moderation queues and implementing mandatory wellbeing breaks to reduce cumulative exposure to distressing material.
This includes ongoing therapy, group interventions, and comprehensive training focused on developing adequate and effective healthy coping skills for distress tolerance, workload and stress management, and recognition of signs and symptoms of common mental health challenges in moderation work.
In this way, the organization helps moderators stay prepared for their daily tasks and maintain continuous access to mental health resources.
Critical Incident Management and Rapid Response
In the event of critical incidents, organizations need clear plans that include specific training, debriefing sessions, and targeted interventions.
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) should be conducted within 24-72 hours following exposure to particularly traumatic content, along with crisis intervention protocols and on-site rapid response support.
These measures form part of a broader strategy to maintain a resilient and psychologically safe work environment.
Offboarding – Transitioning with Care
Organizations must also acknowledge the importance of supporting moderators as they transition out of this work. This phase helps them decompress and prepare for life after this work, and it can include structured debriefing and therapy sessions.
Thoughtful offboarding aims to ensure that moderators leave with a positive perception of their experience and of the industry’s commitment to their wellbeing.
How Therapy Supports Content Moderators
In the demanding field of content moderation, providing digital wellness support for moderators who deal with disturbing content and stringent content guidelines is not a simple perk. It is a necessity. Often constrained from speaking publicly about their work, Content Moderators have expressed concerns about insufficient therapy.
Evidence-Based Clinical Approaches
Therapy offers a vital support system to address the challenges outlined by toxic content and maintain their psychological wellbeing.
Evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) have proven particularly effective in helping moderators develop problem-focused coping strategies.
Therapy provides a confidential and safe space for moderators to process the difficult content they encounter daily. It allows them to express and work through their feelings and experiences about the disturbing content they moderate without fear of judgment or repercussions. This space is important for their mental and emotional healing.
Building Resilience and Processing Trauma
Through therapy, moderators can build resilience and practical coping strategies. Therapists can help them recognize and manage their reactions to traumatic content, equipping them with tools to handle stress, anxiety, and any other mental health challenges that arise from their work.
Regular access to therapy can prevent the long-term psychological impact of content moderation. Therapy can mitigate the risk of developing more severe mental health conditions, helping moderators maintain a healthy work-life balance and overall wellbeing.
It can also contribute to better job performance and satisfaction. When moderators feel mentally supported and have tools to manage their stress, they are more likely to stay engaged and maintain high standards in their work. This benefits individual moderators, their teams, and the quality of content moderation as a whole.
Balancing Technology and Human Touch in Trust and Safety
It’s likely that 10-20 years from now, 90-99% of the data on the internet will be created with the help of Generative AI technologies. This rapid increase in user-generated content (UGC) has made it impossible to rely solely on traditional human-led moderation methods due to the volume and speed required.
AI Tools and Technical Safeguards
The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in content moderation has significantly reduced the volume of harmful content that human moderators need to review, which can improve their working conditions.
Technical measures such as content hashing and near-duplicate detection can identify previously flagged material and reduce repeated exposure to the same traumatic content.
Reducing Sensory Impact Through Interface Design
AI technologies, such as AWS’s Rekognition, have revolutionized content moderation by automating the detection and filtering of explicit content. Modern moderation interfaces incorporate features like interactive blurring, grayscale conversion for disturbing imagery, and audio muting for sensitive recordings.
Some platforms also offer storyboard or thumbnail views for video content, allowing Content Moderators to assess material with reduced sensory impact. These tools can blur sensitive images, redact offensive language, and mask inappropriate audio recordings in real-time.
By filtering out the most egregious content, AI reduces the psychological burden on human moderators and limits direct exposure to potentially traumatic material.
Limitations of Automated Moderation
It is important to note that moderators often have discretion over how they use filters. Some may choose not to rely on them if they feel that filters slow their work or introduce uncertainty about specific cases. While these AI tools can reduce the initial shock factor, they may not significantly reduce overall exposure to graphic materials.
A 2023 report (PDF) on AI in online content moderation by Cambridge Consultants highlights that AI cannot fully replace the nuanced judgment and contextual insight that human moderators bring.
AI assists in the initial filtering process but often struggles with context, subtleties, and cultural aspects. Therefore, human intervention remains essential for making informed decisions on content that AI flags as borderline or ambiguous.
Advocating for Better Policies and Enhanced Standards
Content moderation sits within a complex mix of safety expectations, legal requirements, and platform priorities, and advocacy can drive the implementation of policies and standards that prioritize the mental wellbeing of moderators. These policies are essential in creating a safer and more supportive work environment for those at the frontline of digital content control.
Legislative Frameworks – Online Safety Act and DSA
Recent legislative initiatives like the Online Safety Act and Digital Services Act represent significant strides in regulating moderation services dealing with disturbing content and user safety.
They fall short in comprehensively addressing the specific mental health needs and wellbeing of Content Moderators, underscoring a critical area for further development and focus in future policy-making. The impact of these acts can be significant:
- Increased Responsibility for Platforms: The act mandates platforms to be more proactive in identifying and removing harmful content. This responsibility has led to more rigorous content moderation processes, necessitating strong, well-resourced support systems for moderators.
- Transparency Reports: Under the DSA, organizations labelled as ‘Very Large Online Platforms’ that have 45 million European Users or more are required to file a transparency report detailing their content policy actions every six months. This has led to the release of some very interesting insights, including how Pinterest’s moderators removed about 12 million adult-related posts on its platform in three months.
- Emphasis on User and Moderator Safety: With a user-centric approach, these acts focus on the safety of both users and moderators, driving the development of tools and practices to minimize moderators’ exposure to harmful content.
- Setting Standards for Content Moderation: The act sets clear guidelines and standards for content moderation, including the types of content to be moderated and the timeframe for its removal. This clarity regarding content guidelines can help in structuring moderation workflows more effectively.
Measuring Program Effectiveness with Validated Metrics
Beyond these legislative frameworks, policies specifically tailored to the mental health of Content Moderators are needed. These policies should address the availability of support and the barriers that prevent moderators from using these resources in practice:
- Regular Mental Health Assessments: Policies could mandate regular mental health screenings for moderators using validated instruments such as the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to identify signs of stress, anxiety, or PTSD early on.
- Professional Psychological Support: Providing access to professional counseling and therapy as part of employment benefits can help moderators cope with the emotional toll of their work.
- Training and Education: Policies might require access to psychoeducation or comprehensive training in mental health awareness, stress management, and resilience-building for moderators.
- Creating a Supportive Work Culture: Encouraging a culture that values mental health, including peer support groups, open dialogue about mental health challenges, and a stigma-free work environment.
- Transparency and Accountability in Utilization of Services: Policies should also require organizations to report transparently on the use of mental health services while protecting user data. This transparency is key to holding organizations accountable for the support they provide.
- Managing Barriers to Engagement: It’s important to recognize and mitigate barriers to accessing mental health services. This includes addressing issues like poor tooling, frequent policy changes, and challenging productivity metrics that can impact moderators’ mental health.
- Protecting Moderators from Penalization: Policies should mandate that organizations do not penalize moderators, such as impacting their bonuses or job status, if their productivity drops due to dealing with vicarious traumatization or other mental health issues. Such protections are essential in creating a truly supportive work environment.
Employment Models and Outsourcing Risks
Policies must address outsourcing risks and the employment model used for Content Moderation work. This includes establishing hazard pay for exposure to traumatic content, ensuring vendor oversight, and considering the benefits of direct employment versus third-party contractors to maintain continuity of care and support.
The success of these policies depends on the collaboration between industry leaders, advocacy groups, and policymakers:
- Industry Leadership: Tech companies and platforms must take a leading part in advocating for and implementing these policies. Their commitment to moderator wellbeing can set industry standards.
- Advocacy Groups: These groups can raise awareness about the challenges faced by Content Moderators and lobby for stronger protections and support systems.
- Collaboration with Mental Health Professionals: Working with mental health experts can help in developing effective support programs and interventions for moderators.
Prioritizing the Wellbeing of Content Moderators
Content Moderators stand as important yet often overlooked guardians of online safety and integrity. While legislative measures like the Online Safety Act and Digital Services Act have begun to address the challenges in content moderation, there remains a significant gap in adequately supporting the mental health of these key players.
The integration of AI in content moderation is a step forward, reducing the burden on humans. At the same time, it is vital to maintain a balance, recognizing that AI supplements but does not replace the judgment of human moderators.
As we continue to shape the digital environment, ensuring the mental health and overall wellbeing of Content Moderators must be a top priority. Organizations seeking content moderator health solutions need to implement comprehensive programs that address both immediate and long-term wellbeing needs.
We can create a more sustainable and humane digital world by prioritizing the wellbeing of those who manage our online spaces, through building a supportive work environment and promoting improved standards.
Get in Touch
To find out more about how Zevo Health can support your content moderation teams, don’t hesitate to contact us.
