Content Moderation

Introduction

Effective content moderation is essential for maintaining a healthy, productive community. This tutorial will guide you through setting up and managing content moderation on your Gush network, helping you create a space where members feel safe and discussions remain constructive.

Setting Up Moderation Rules

Clear rules provide the foundation for effective moderation:

  1. Navigate to Settings > Moderation
  2. Create community guidelines:
    • Define acceptable and unacceptable content
    • Establish rules for respectful communication
    • Set expectations for content quality
    • Outline consequences for rule violations
  3. Configure how guidelines are displayed:
    • Show during registration
    • Display prominently in the community
    • Include in the footer of all pages
  4. Save your changes

Pro Tip: Keep your guidelines clear, specific, and concise. Use examples to illustrate both acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

Pre-Publication Moderation

Pre-publication moderation reviews content before it's visible to the community:

  1. Go to Settings > Moderation > Pre-Publication
  2. Configure pre-publication settings:
    • All Content: Require approval for all posts (high control, high workload)
    • New Members Only: Only moderate content from new members (balanced approach)
    • Flagged Content Only: Only review content that triggers automated flags (lower workload)
  3. Set up group-specific rules:
    • Some groups may need stricter moderation than others
    • Configure each group's pre-publication settings separately
  4. Save your changes

Managing the Approval Queue:

  1. Navigate to Moderation > Approval Queue
  2. Review each pending item
  3. Approve, edit, or reject content
  4. Optionally, provide feedback to the author

Recommendation: For most communities, moderating content from new members for their first few posts strikes a good balance between quality control and moderator workload.

Post-Publication Moderation

Post-publication moderation addresses issues after content is published:

  1. Go to Moderation > Published Content
  2. Use filters to find content:
    • Recent posts
    • Most active discussions
    • Content with flags or reports
  3. Take action on problematic content:
    • Edit to remove problematic elements
    • Add a moderator note
    • Hide temporarily
    • Delete permanently
  4. Document moderation actions for consistency

Pro Tip: Regular review of active discussions helps catch issues early before they escalate.

Handling Reported Content

Member reports are valuable signals for moderation:

  1. Navigate to Moderation > Reported Content
  2. Review each report:
    • See who reported the content and why
    • View the content in context
    • Check the author's history
  3. Take appropriate action:
    • Dismiss the report if no violation occurred
    • Edit or remove content that violates guidelines
    • Warn the author if necessary
    • Thank the reporter (optional)
  4. Close the report with a resolution note

Important: Respond to reports promptly to show members that you value their input and take community standards seriously.

Automated Moderation Tools

Gush offers automated tools to assist with moderation:

  1. Go to Settings > Moderation > Automation
  2. Configure keyword filters:
    • Add words or phrases that should be flagged
    • Set sensitivity levels for profanity filters
    • Create custom rules for specific content patterns
  3. Set up automated actions:
    • Flag for review
    • Hold for approval
    • Automatically reject
    • Send alerts to moderators
  4. Test your filters to ensure they're not too strict or too lenient
  5. Save your changes

Pro Tip: Automated tools work best as a supplement to human moderation, not a replacement. Regularly review and refine your automated rules based on their effectiveness.

Working with Moderators

As your community grows, you may need additional moderators:

  1. Navigate to Manage Moderator > Moderator to view and manage your moderation team

Content Moderation

  1. Selecting Moderators:

    • Look for active, respected community members
    • Choose people who understand your community's values
    • Consider availability across different time zones

  2. Assigning Moderator Roles:

    • Click on "+ Add New" to add a new moderator
    • Select the member and assign appropriate roles
    • Save changes

  3. Training Moderators:

    • Create clear moderation guidelines
    • Establish escalation procedures
    • Set up regular check-ins to discuss challenges

  4. Monitoring Moderation Actions:

    • Review the moderation log regularly
    • Provide feedback to moderators
    • Ensure consistency across the moderation team

Best Practices

Based on successful Gush communities, here are some best practices for content moderation:

  • Be transparent about your moderation practices
  • Stay consistent in applying rules
  • Focus on education rather than punishment
  • Document decisions for future reference
  • Regularly review and update your guidelines
  • Provide clear feedback when moderating content
  • Create a private moderator group for discussion and support
  • Take care of moderator wellbeing by sharing the workload

Next Steps

Now that you've set up your content moderation system, you're ready to:

  1. Create Events - Organize virtual or in-person gatherings for your community
  2. Set Up a Job Board - Help members find opportunities
  3. Create Newsletters - Keep your members informed and engaged

Remember, effective moderation is an ongoing process that evolves with your community. Regularly review your approach and adjust as needed.