Why Is Content Moderation Important For User-Generated Campaigns? | Privy Reviews

As the years pass, social media platforms and online communities play a critical role in our lives. Today, user-generated campaigns have become a powerful tool for businesses and organizations. These campaigns rely on user participation and contributions to create content. They influence the audience in distinct ways. There is a vast sea of user-generated content, and because of it, campaigns need effective content moderation.

Content moderation in user-generated campaigns plays a fundamental role in online security governance. It helps protect user-generated content from exposure to abusive, deceptive, or unsuitable materials or information someone else shares. With suitable moderation, user-generated campaigns can avoid encountering several obstacles. 

But don't worry—we are here to help you understand content moderation and its importance for user-generated campaigns. 

What is Content Moderation?

Content moderation services mainly occur over digital platforms, social media networks, web communities, online games, virtual marketplaces, and metaverses. It is for places where people can quickly release content in different formats like audio, image, test, and videos through articles, forum publications, posts, etc. 

Here are a few examples of disruptive or offensive user-generated content- 

    1. Saying something that's mean or discriminates against people because of their religion, race, or ethnicity. 
    2. Sharing things that support violence or terrorism. 
    3. Putting out false information about the medical process, like saying something works when it doesn't.
    4. Giving bad financial advice that has a deceptive tone.
    5. Posting age-inappropriate or sexually explicit content.
    6. Encouraging illegal practices like malware, hacking, or spreading viruses.
    7. Pushing political opinion that's influential or a hoax. 
    8. Sharing scary content that makes people scared.
    9. Putting out clickbait that has hype and no substance.

But here's the thing, not everything that gets flagged or moderated is necessarily breaking the law or harassing someone. It depends on where you're posting and what the rules are there. We'll give you two contrasting social media environments. For instance, if you're on a kid-friendly site, they might be strict about anything unsuitable for kids, like a photo of a kid in a swimsuit. However, on another site, such practices are standard. They might not care as much about those things. 

Policies may differ from region to region. So, it's important to know the rules of the place where you're posting and ensure you're not crossing any lines.

All in all, content moderation is all about checking what people post online, making sure it follows the rules of the website or app, and taking action if it doesn't. This can mean removing or not letting certain posts go up. There are different ways to do this, such as having people check posts before they are seen, checking them after they're posted, or using a mix of both.

Trust and Security in Content Moderation

Trust and safety are all about ensuring that digital platforms are used in a good and legal way. This includes following rules and using tools to keep things respectful and safe. It may also include things like protecting data, stopping fraud, and dealing with security problems.

Trust and safety play a unique role in content moderation because they guide the process and shape a great initiative. They help teams determine what content is okay and what must be handled carefully. It also helps with data privacy, decides what technology to use, and ensures people express themselves freely while staying safe online.

What Are User-Generated Campaigns?

Most people have been using user-generated campaigns recently. A UGC is like a marketing plan in which regular individuals create the content instead of the company. This content, called UGC, can influence people's shopping choices.

Many companies have caught onto this and used UGC as their marketing strategy. It has worked very well for them. In these campaigns, brands ask customers to make content with their products or team up with people who already make UGC. Then, they use this content on their social media or website.

User-generated campaigns have other perks for brands besides convincing people to buy their products. UGC is way cheaper than paying influencers, it's quicker than making content themselves, and it helps showcase different viewpoints on their products. 

Different Types of Content Moderation

Although similar moderation goals exist, there are a few ways to attain them via systematic and committed activities. Thus, diverse content moderation plans can preserve community standards and guarantee user safety. Ultimately, it all depends on the platform's needs, content volume, and customer base. 

Companies may gain an advantage by collaborating multiple moderating options for improved results. When choosing how to moderate, thinking about quick actions, how much human involvement you want, and the user's control modification is essential.
Here are some of the approaches-

Pre-Moderation

This consists of hands-on manual monitoring of all the UGC before being published. Following this, human moderators scan the content and decide whether to reject it or publish it. They also look into whether the work could support algorithms and filters that help determine threats. Through this process, inappropriate or harmful content will not appear on the platform. 

Post Moderation

Instead of being proactive, this manual moderation of the reactive type checks content after it's been posted. It involves reviewing posts manually and editing or deleting anything inappropriate. Real-time tools, user report systems, and community rules help make this process work well. 

Computerized Moderation

The process uses upgraded tools and filters to detect and manage particular phrases, words, or content segments. While automated, it is necessary to constantly update the list of banned content. It is crucial to check the incorporation of refined algorithms for better "automatic" decision-making. This method is speedy and inexpensive, but the human touch is missing and needs constant optimization. 

Hybrid Moderation

You may have understood this one by its name. The approach combines automated and manual moderation methods. Hybrid moderation is a flexible and promising way to keep content quality high and users safe, especially for platforms with lots of different content and constant changes.

Reactive Moderation

It lets users report or flag content via tools like customer support tickets or the report button. It is a valuable supplementary method but is insufficient on many levels. It lacks real-time solutions and control, which delays eliminating unwanted posts. 

Distributed Moderation

This method lets users rate and vote on content to boost good content online and delete or hide bad stuff. It focuses on excellent quality but doesn't need many reports or flags from users. 

Community-Based Moderation

This involves the full participation of platform members in flagging, reporting, or rating the content. All of these actions can be done through user reporting systems and other guidelines. 

The Importance of Content  Moderation For User-generated Content

Many think content moderation is not important at all. They take it very casually and end up with a bad reputation. But it's not that way. The importance of moderating content in user-generated campaigns is many. We'll enlighten you-

Protected Brand Image 

Users sharing their online content also display a particular brand image. Therefore, there has to be a proper process for content moderation. 

It ensures safety in the community by preventing inappropriate content from being posted on the digital screen or the brand's webpage. Failure to go through the content moderation process will give the brand a bad reputation and shun potential consumers. 

Promotes a Healthier Online Environment

Imagine someone posting mean comments on a website. That can make others feel bad and make them not want to use the site anymore. Websites keep people happy and a positive online environment by checking and removing mean or harmful posts. Moderators are also wary of spamming so that people get irritated and stop visiting sites. 

For example, let's say there's a social media site where users can share photos. Without content moderation, some users might post rude or inappropriate pictures. This could upset other users and make them unwilling to return to the site anymore. However, if the site checks what people post and removes anything negative, it keeps the online community happier and more engaged. 

Terms and Conditions

There are set rules for every platform on which someone posts content. The users sharing their content need to ensure they meet the legal formalities of the page they are posting on for the brand. They must be vigilant of the tiniest things when they share the content. 

Content moderation is essential when people share things online. Companies need to check the content to make sure it follows the rules. This helps them avoid legal trouble by removing anything against the rules. 

Promotes User Engagement

Content moderation is essential for user-generated content because it helps boost user engagement significantly. When people visit a website or participate in campaigns where they can share their content, they want to see something that's interesting and useful to them. If the content is engaging and relevant, they'll return for more.

That's why it's essential to regularly check and moderate the content to ensure nothing inappropriate gets through. You can encourage more people to get involved and keep coming back for more by creating a protected and engaging online atmosphere. 

Understand Your Customers

Content moderation is essential for user-generated content because it helps companies understand what their customers want. When moderators go through the content, they can see people's issues or complaints.

It helps the company determine what changes or improvements it must make. By listening to what customers say, the company can keep up with what's important to them and ensure their happiness. This leads to better ratings and more satisfied customers in the long run.

Participatory Marketing 

We know how customers trust content not made by brands but by fellow users. Let's start by giving you one of the best examples of participatory marketing. The UGC campaign using the hashtag "shot on the iPhone challenge" trended at full speed. People showed their photos on social media, and others questioned the features of the iPhone camera. 

A cautiously moderated UGC campaign can convert website visitors to regular customers, thus increasing your brand market value and participating chances. Companies scale quickly with several unpaid and unaffiliated internet users. As many brand ambassadors do, they begin talking positively about services and products. 

The campaign for the iPhone was a huge success and a classic example of participatory marketing. This is the level of impact of content moderation on UGC campaigns. 

Content Moderation- How Does It Work for User-Generated Campaigns?

Did you know how content moderation works for user-generated campaigns? It involves numerous steps to ensure all content users share follows the rules set by the company or platform. Here's how it works- 

Establishing Guidelines

The company has a list of rules and regulations users must follow when creating content for the campaign. These guidelines outline what type of content is acceptable and what is not. Unacceptable content would not be put online, citing harmful consequences. It's better you know these guidelines before they cause trouble. 

Submission of Content- Because there are set rules and guidelines, users submit their content work, such as images, videos, or text, accordingly. It could be via social media hashtags, dedicated campaign websites, or other submission methods.

Starting Moderation Work

Once content is submitted, it undergoes a moderation process. Every little detail is carefully scrutinized at this stage. It typically involves human moderators or automated moderation tools. 

They review each submission to guarantee that it follows all the guidelines. Moderators look for various criteria. These include fulfilling legal requirements, compliance with the campaign's theme or message, and appropriateness. And, of course, as mentioned before, they look for any content that may be offensive, inappropriate, or harmful.

Decision Making

Now comes the tricky part. At this phase, moderators decide to approve or reject each piece of content based on the established criteria. Sometimes, moderators have to deal with a lot of grey areas. They approve content and publish or display it as part of the campaign. They remove the rejected content. But some may be put on hold for more contemplation. 

Feedback and Communication

In some cases, moderators may provide feedback to creators of rejected content. They explain the reasons for the decision and guide how to make revisions if possible. This feedback is extremely significant so creators understand and don't repeat mistakes. 

Continuous Monitoring

The necessity of moderating content in UGC projects is paramount. During the campaign, moderation activities continue to guarantee that every new piece of content meets the guidelines before submission.

This may involve constant scrutiny by manual or automated moderator systems to flag potentially tricky content. 

Adaptation and Improvement

Adaptability is imperative in every field, and that's why companies may adjust the guidelines or moderation procedures based on the moderation process's performance. This is done to improve effectiveness and ensure a good user experience. 

All in all, moderation protects the brand from several harmful effects, and this process is crucial for every business. Without it, you may risk getting sued at some point. 

The Best Practices For UGC Moderation

If you think becoming a UGC creator and content moderation is easy, you are wrong. As moderators, it takes a lot of time and energy to gain perspectives on every piece of content and filter it. If they follow intelligent rules, moderators can help companies handle content checking smoothly.  

These rules match the platform's needs and make things organized and effective. As moderators, here are some good ideas for them to ensure people feel safe and welcome online- 

Customize Your Approach

Moderators must figure out what works best for the platform and users. They could use different methods for different situations as relevant. It would be good.

Gain clarity

In our experience, being transparent about specific things is always good. Moderators should tell people upfront what's okay and what's not. It will make it easy for creators to adhere to the rules and let them know what happens if they break them. 

Spread Positivity

The online world is quite vulnerable these days, and the amount of negativity spreading is relatively high. Moderators can show creators what good behavior looks like and give props to those who are amazing online.

Team Up

It would be good to get input from different departments, especially the ones focused on trust and safety, to come up with a solid plan. This will give plenty of ideas about a few things (what to do and what not to do) from the moderators' perspective. 

Speak Every Language

Moderators should understand and handle content in all the languages people use. This is vital to understanding every little thing about the content and not misinterpreting anything. 

Respect Privacy

They should follow the rules about keeping people's information safe and not let anything sketchy slide. The solution is to maintain a balance between freedom of expression and harmful content. 

Stay Flexible

Trends and people's tastes keep changing. Moderators should stay up-to-date with everything that's happening in the world. Keep an eye on what's happening and tweak your approach to keep up.

Plan for Trouble

It is not always a smooth and simple ride. Moderators sometimes have to jump to conclusions quickly to do certain things. They must be ready to jump in and promptly handle challenging situations if something terrible happens. 

Supporting The Moderators

Content moderators have to look at several pieces of content all day long, which might not be great for their mental health. Nobody wants to deal with disturbing stuff all day without some backup. They need incentives to be in good mind and continue their work. They may have a wellness plan, or others can check on them frequently. Make a space for them where they get breaks from viewing distressing content. 

Successful Content Moderation Strategies

Content moderation ensures that a brand and its users are on the same page. Every company does it differently, but it's critical to keep things in line and boost sales. Here are some intelligent ways brands can handle it- 

Using Suitable Tools

Managing user-generated content in a big online community can be a handful. But moderators can use a tool called Tagshop to make things easier. It helps gather content by searching for specific words and tags and even sorts it automatically.

With Tagshop, moderators can showcase social media content flamboyantly. They can quickly sort through it and decide what to showcase on social media, online shops, and product pages.
By using Tagshop, brands can:
   

• Make sure social media posts stand out.
• Keep things transparent between the brand and users.
• Avoid legal issues by getting permission to use the content.
• Get detailed insights and analytics to help reach your goals.

So, if brands want to heighten their social media game and handle user content like a pro, Tagshop is the go-to tool!

Setting Brand Values by Being Open To Vital Feedback

Good reviews are excellent for businesses and make customers happy. Bad reviews and criticism matter, too. When people think of buying something, they want to know the real deal, not just the excellent material.

So, brands shouldn't ignore the negative content on websites and social media. It helps businesses improve and connect with new customers while keeping the current ones happy.

Reveal Collaborations and Recycle

When moderators team up with influencer marketing experts, it's a common way to grow sales and reach more customers. But here's the twist: instead of just using their content, brands must ask these influencers for honest feedback, too. It's important to be transparent with customers about any reviews they share. This helps people make smarter choices when buying products. 

People trust what other hands-on customers say more than what influencers say, so collaborations between companies and influencers should be meaningful. Influencers can link their content with visuals to back up their words.

Allocate The "verified user" Label.

One smart strategy for content moderation is to give certain people a "verified user" tag. This tag shows that they are legitimate customers or experts, which is essential when moderating content in UGC efforts. 

For instance, imagine you're looking at reviews for a new phone. If every review is positive and shiny, one might wonder if they are all-natural. There will be suspicious vibes everywhere. 

But if someone sees some reviews from verified users—people who bought and used the phone—it adds credibility and helps them trust the brand more. 

Start Your Journey with Privy Reviews

You now know the relevance of content moderation for user-generated campaigns. Starting a user-generated campaign and moderating content can be challenging, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes more accessible for users. And if you ever need a hand, you can always count on Privy Reviews for help.

Joining our Privy Reviews can put you in the spotlight for user-generated content. Being part of our crew can boost your reputation, help you get more views, and earn you some extra money.

Don't wait any longer! Join us now and become a pro at creating excellent user-generated campaigns!