By Emrakel Sileshi
In the digital age, tech giants like Facebook and YouTube have become ubiquitous, dominating our screens and infiltrating our lives. They have taken over the world by a swarm, spreading their influence far and wide. To maintain their dominance, they have outsourced workers from developing countries, creating a new class of young people who are highly interested in working in the tech industry.
These tech giants have enlisted a legion of human reviewers, working tirelessly around the clock to police their platforms for content that breaches community guidelines. Equipped with a set of parameters, these moderators determine whether a particular piece of content should be removed or not.
During one of our interviews, we had the pleasure of hearing from a content moderator who had worked in two different countries, for these tech titans.
What was the inspiration behind your job choice?
Not too long ago, I had a steady job with ample opportunities for growth and learning. Little did I know that everything would take an unexpected turn when I applied for a call center agent role in one of the countries in my early 20s. The mere prospect of relocating to a different country for work filled me with excitement and anticipation. I vividly remember the day of the interview – things moved at lightning speed, and by the following days, I had signed the contract and was informed that I would be flying out that next day! My family believed I was leaving for a month-long business trip, and so I had to hastily wrap up my work-related tasks and squeeze in some time to bid adieu to my friends. I landed in one of the cities , brimming with enthusiasm for the thrilling adventure that lay ahead.
However, the decision to move would soon turn out to be one of the most pivotal ones in my life. After a brief period of training and examinations, I began my role as a call center agent. While the specifics of my job duties were somewhat unclear up until this point, I had expected to handle calls and correspond with clients on behalf of the company.
What was the reality of the job?
As I embarked on my job, I was confronted with a harsh reality – I was tasked with the responsibility of moderating the most gruesome and distressing videos, images, and content on a social media platform. My role entailed content moderation.
The hours were grueling, and the pay was dreadfully insufficient. It never occurred to me during the application, interview, or recruitment process that I would have to review such disturbing and mentally taxing social media content. The experience was harrowing and disheartening.
To make matters worse, the company failed to communicate effectively and was not transparent about the job’s details until after we had relocated and begun training. Consequently, my colleagues and I were unaware of the client,the tech giants, and I found myself trapped in a job that did not align with my career aspirations or interests.I felt undervalued, depressed, and manipulated throughout my time in this position.
How did the job affect you?
The toll that online content moderation took on me was nothing short of immense. I was constantly exposed to grotesque and explicit images, and over time, it began to take a significant toll on my mental health. Studies have shown that prolonged exposure to such materials can lead to anxiety, depression, and even symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
As a content moderator, I found myself going without sleep for months on end. The constant shift changes and high levels of stress took a heavy toll on my body, mind, and overall well-being. Despite being paid for my work, it never felt like enough compensation for the trauma and emotional exhaustion that came with the job.
Every day felt like an emotional battlefield. I was trapped in a toxic work environment where I felt replaceable and undervalued. It was as if the company saw me as nothing more than a cog in their content moderation machine, despite claiming that people were clamoring for this position.
The psychological strain of working with traumatic materials for eight hours a day, often with limited breaks and no overtime pay, was overwhelming. And as a contractor, I had no job security or legal protections to fall back on. The financial strain of constantly struggling to make ends meet while grappling with deteriorating mental health was a constant source of stress and anxiety.
In short, the toll of content moderation goes far beyond the workplace. It’s a deeply personal struggle that can have lasting effects on a person’s well-being and livelihood. And without proper support and protections in place, those effects can be devastating.
How long did you work with this working condition?
After a few years, regular exposure to graphic images and videos of violence, gore, or pornography always left me feeling overwhelmed, numbing my sense of humanity. Sleepless nights plagued me, and I resorted to various sleeping pills. Seeking help, I started looking for a psychiatrist. The impact of such content extended beyond my work experience, affecting my social, personal, and normal life to the fullest. Despite my resignation from my job as a content moderator for two prominent social media companies – the burnout persists. Every piece of content I review leaves me stressed, unable to concentrate, and consumed by anxiety. These symptoms have become a part of my daily activities, making it challenging to control my worry and desire to avoid anxiety-provoking situations.
Stress follows me like a shadow, trailing behind me in every social, professional, and personal pursuit. My mind never stops, buzzing with a constant stream of distracting thoughts that leave me drained and burnt out. It’s not just any old stress either; there are specific worries and emotions that cling to me like a burden. Few can grasp the weight of isolation and detachment that comes with the responsibility of moderating online content. The job is isolating in itself, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the overwhelming task of deciding what is acceptable.
Do you have any last word you wanted to say for aspiring content moderators?
Personally, If any young person, or anyone, is considering taking a job in content moderation, I would strongly advise against it. At first the financial bargain seems attractive but in deciding many things should be considered like understanding the payment after tax cut, expenses living in different countries should be thought wisely because then you would end up making ends meet without really saving and after hard work you’ll still feel financially stressed. No one should have to pay such a traumatic price, especially at a young age.
The career path doesn’t really help you grow professionally and financially, and also I believe the lack of transparency was unethical, as people should know fully what they’re getting themselves into and decide for themselves if it’s really something they want to do. This experience has scarred me for life, and I will never forget it.
I’m sure that this article will help young people considering careers as content moderators to better understand the challenges they will face on the job.