Roblox, the popular online gaming platform, is implementing stricter measures to protect young users. New age-based restrictions, a rating system, and increased content moderation aim to address concerns regarding child safety and inappropriate interactions. These changes come amidst scrutiny from regulators and reports of potential risks to younger players.
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has laid off hundreds of human content moderators worldwide as it transitions to an AI-driven content moderation system. This move comes amidst increased regulatory scrutiny and follows recent issues with Instagram’s content moderation system, where errors by human moderators led to user account suspensions.
TikTok, owned by ByteDance, has announced layoffs affecting hundreds of employees globally, with a significant portion in Malaysia. This move is part of the company’s strategy to enhance AI-based content moderation and streamline operations. The layoffs primarily target content moderation staff and come amidst increased regulatory scrutiny in Malaysia and broader restructuring within the company.
X, formerly known as Twitter, has published its first transparency report since Elon Musk’s acquisition. The report highlights content moderation actions, revealing a significant number of account suspensions and post removals. However, the report comes amid a turbulent period for X, with declining user numbers, advertiser exodus, and concerns about content moderation. Despite challenges, some analysts see potential in Musk’s platform updates.
Telegram, the messaging app co-founded by Pavel Durov, has made a significant change to its private chat moderation policy. This comes after increasing scrutiny of the platform’s content moderation practices, including investigations in France and South Korea. Telegram previously assured users that private chats were immune from moderation requests, but this statement has now been retracted, indicating a shift in the platform’s approach to content control.
A significant number of advertisers are planning to reduce their spending on Elon Musk’s social media platform X in 2025. This decision is driven by concerns about the platform’s association with contentious content and a decline in advertiser trust. While Musk has attempted to reassure advertisers, the platform continues to face challenges in regaining lost confidence.
Google has introduced a new system to combat the rise of AI-generated deepfakes created without consent. The system simplifies the removal process for victims and proactively reduces the spread of such content. Google aims to filter out deepfakes from search results and prioritize legitimate news coverage on the issue.
Content moderation has become increasingly important for businesses in the digital age, with social media platforms leading the charge. However, as the landscape evolves, so too do the challenges of content moderation. While artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasing role, human moderators remain essential to ensure effective content moderation. Alex Popken, a former trust and safety executive at Twitter, now vice president of trust and safety at WebPurify, discusses the challenges and opportunities of content moderation in the non-social media space, as well as the role of AI in this ever-evolving field.
Alex Popken, former trust and safety executive at Twitter and current VP of trust and safety at WebPurify, discusses the evolving landscape of content moderation, the role of AI and human moderators, and the challenges faced by non-social media companies. She highlights the need for constant vigilance and adaptation to stay ahead of new risks, particularly in light of emerging technologies like generative AI.
