The Hidden Toll of Content Moderation: Trauma and Exploitation in Kenya
"Kenyan Facebook content moderators face 'lifelong trauma' from exposure to graphic content, leading to widespread PTSD diagnoses."
Matilda
The Hidden Toll of Content Moderation: Trauma and Exploitation in Kenya
The digital age has ushered in unprecedented connectivity, but beneath the gleaming surface of social media platforms lies a dark underbelly: the psychological toll exacted on the individuals tasked with policing its content. A recent lawsuit filed by Kenyan content moderators against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has brought to light the devastating consequences of this often-overlooked role, revealing a pattern of exploitation and disregard for human well-being. The Gruesome Reality of Content Moderation Content moderators act as the unsung guardians of the online world, sifting through a relentless torrent of images, videos, and text to identify and remove harmful content. This includes graphic depictions of violence, child sexual abuse, self-harm, suicide, and other deeply disturbing material. While their work is crucial for maintaining a semblance of order and safety within digital spaces, it comes at a significant cost to their mental health. A Wave of Trauma The lawsuit, fi…
