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The PS5's Game Help feature will start sourcing videos from other players
Sony is expanding Game Help to include real gameplay as hints on select PlayStation 5 titles.
Facebook faces lawsuit in Kenya over poor working conditions for moderators
The lawsuit accuses Facebook's subcontractor of targeting people in Africa with misleading job ads.
Instagram Live creators can now bring in moderators to handle trolls
The feature could make broadcasts a more positive experience for almost everyone.
Some Facebook moderators can work from home following protests
Facebook moderators can work from home after protesting their contractor's demand they return to the office.
TikTok moderator sues over mental trauma caused by graphic videos
A TikTok moderator has sued the social media platform and its parent ByteDance over trauma caused by graphic videos.
Reddit pulls back chat rooms after angering moderators
Reddit yanked a new chat room feature just a day after launch after an outcry from moderators.
Recommended Reading: Facebook moderator PTSD
Bodies in seats Casey Newton, The Verge The job of moderating toxic content on social media is a daunting task. It also takes a massive psychological toll on those doing it. The Verge has first-hand accounts from the worst-performing Facebook moderating site in North America. People who worked there describe dire working conditions, harassment and their struggles with PTSD.
Leaked emails show Facebook is still struggling to tackle hate speech
On the same day that Facebook announced it was banning white nationalism from its platforms, journalists obtained a lengthy email chain involving Instagram's content moderators, highlighting their struggle to crack down on anti-Semitism.
Facebook says it has 'work to do' improving moderator job conditions
Facebook hasn't been shy about hiring thousands of moderators to screen content that violates its policies, but there hasn't been much insight into conditions for those moderators. And unfortunately, it doesn't look great -- The Verge posted an exposé revealing that at least some contractors struggle with anxiety, trauma, inadequate counseling, micro-managing team leaders and low pay. To that end, Facebook Global Operations VP Justin Osofsky has issued a response where it explained its practices and how it might address the problems in the report.
Former Facebook moderator sues over mental trauma
Facebook's content moderators don't have an easy task. They often have to see the very worst of what people post, including graphic violence and sexual abuse. And while the social network has resources to help, at least one former worker doesn't believe that's enough. Ex-contractor Selena Scola has sued Facebook for allegedly "ignoring its duty" to protect moderators who deal with mental trauma after seeing disturbing imagery. Rather than create a safe environment, it's producing a "revolving door of contractors" who are permanently scarred by what they've seen, Scola's lawyer Korey Nelson said.
With Squadbox, friends moderate harassing messages in your email
Researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory have developed a tool aimed at fighting harassment online. It's called Squadbox and the idea behind it is to have your friends or coworkers moderate your incoming messages for you. The research team interviewed a number of people who had experienced online harassment in the past and then designed Squadbox's features based on those conversations.
YouTube moderators inadvertently removed right-wing channels
YouTube's crackdown on conspiracy theories in the wake of the Parkland mass shooting has had some unintended casualties. The streaming video firm has confirmed to Bloomberg that its human moderators inadvertently removed videos and took down channels from right-wing and pro-gun outlets. Newcomers to YouTube's moderation team can "misapply" its policies, a spokesperson said, which led to "mistaken removals" of content. The site vowed to reinstate material it had incorrectly pulled.
YouTube may review its most popular channels for offensive content
It became pretty clear last year that YouTube has a content problem. Last spring, companies like AT&T and Verizon pulled ads because they were found to be appearing alongside extremist videos. And it was hit with another round of ad-pulling later in the year when reports surfaced that a portion of the site's children's content turned out to be not so kid-friendly. Now, following the uproar over Logan Paul's Aokigahara forest video, YouTube may begin vetting the videos posted by its most popular channels, according to Bloomberg.
Reddit app update brings more of the website to mobile
Reddit launched its mobile app last year and today it's getting a major update. The iOS and Android versions are getting a bunch of new features for both users and moderators that will more closely align the app's functionality with that of the web version.
Welcome to the new Engadget commenting system, Livefyre
Greetings readers and commenters. We here at Engadget are always working hard to provide you with the best reading experience we possibly can. To do this, we're making a clean break from our old commenting system -- starting anew in the interests of elevating the discourse that occurs in our comments. Yes, we know that change can be inconvenient at best and scary at worst, but fear not, dear readers, for Livefyre is here to improve your Engadget commenting experience. All you have to do is create a Livefyre account or login using your existing Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or OpenID credentials. And before you ask, no, your Disqus account cannot be ported to the new system. Everyone needs a fresh start sometimes, okay? This is one of those times. Eager to learn more? Want to help make our comments better? The answers you seek are after the break.
Commenting on Engadget: a refresher, and how you can help
It's been far, far too long since we've had an excuse to run that rad picture of dinosaurs with laser guns. It's also been some time since we offered up a gentle reminder about the delicate dance that is the Engadget comments system -- and since things seem to have gone off the rails a bit lately, we've found a good way to accomplish both tasks. After the break, you'll discover everything you need to know in order to become a valued member of the world of Engadget commenting. As ever, we reserve the right to delete those comments that we deem to be trollin' or hatin' -- and to ban repeat offenders. We don't like banning people, and we realize that haters do have to hate, but we do want to encourage active and open debate. This is the best way for us to do that. Of course, to keep things on track we need some assistance, and while a few, proud comment moderators have been helping out for months now, it's time to invite a few more into the fold. More information on how to become a member of the elite moderating forces after the break.
Engadget's comments policy: what you need to know
It's been a little while since we took the time to remind you folks how comments work here -- not that long in human years but, since we've had some changes since then, we thought it was time for a reminder. After the break you'll find our "human's guide" to commenting, a sort of care and feeding guide for your Disqus account. If you've been here for awhile (hello, you) it should be mighty familiar but, since the flow of the commenters has hugely increased lately, we're going to be more strict for awhile, deleting any comments we deem to be trollin' or hatin' and banning repeat offenders. We don't like banning people, and we realize that haters do have to hate, but we love encouraging active and open debate down there. This is the best way for us to do that. Of course, to keep things on track we need help, and while a few, proud comment moderators have been doing us service for months now it's time to invite a few more into the fold. Click on through and, at the bottom, you'll see how to apply.
Internet content filters are human too, funnily enough
Algorithms can only take you so far when you want to minimize obscene content on your social networking site. As the amount of user-uploaded content has exploded in recent times, so has the need for web content screeners, whose job it is to peruse the millions of images we throw up to online hubs like Facebook and MySpace every day, and filter out the illicit and undesirable muck. Is it censorship or just keeping the internet from being overrun with distasteful content? Probably a little bit of both, but apparently what we haven't appreciated until now is just how taxing a job this is. One outsourcing company already offers counseling as a standard part of its benefits package, and an industry group set up by Congress has advised that all should be providing therapy to their image moderators. You heard that right, people, mods need love too! Hit the source for more.
Microsoft: 'The Pro' Xbox Live moderator 'followed protocol'
A video, depicting an Xbox Live moderator (Gamertag: The Pro) banning an Xbox Live gamer during an online match of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, has caught the attention of Microsoft since its posting on YouTube yesterday. Entitled "The Pro : XBOX Live Moderator Abuses His Power," the carefully edited video, which can be viewed after the break, attempts to portray a "corrupt" moderator mercilessly wielding his banhammer and perhaps abusing his authority. Microsoft's Major Nelson quickly made note of the production on his Twitter account, and passed the video off to Stephen Toulouse, director of Xbox Live policy and enforcement, who tweeted several comments of his own. Toulouse noted that The Pro was "policing" Modern Warfare 2 modding, which can result in an Xbox Live Gold account suspension (banning a user from online play) or a complete console ban (rendering Xbox Live inaccessible). In a statement to Joystiq, Toulouse said, "The player behavior in question and subsequent interaction with the moderator violated the Xbox Live Terms of Use and Code of Conduct. The Xbox Live moderator followed protocol and, while he regrets his tone, the video was heavily edited to omit the inappropriate behavior and we fully support the moderator's decision to take action against the offending players." It should be noted that iTzLuPo, the YouTube user who originally uploaded the video, admits that he is a modder in his user bio, stating, "I am now part of one of the best Glitching/modding clans there is on Xbox LIVE." He also lists "Glitching/Modding/tutorials" as so-called hobbies.
Forum post of the day: Go blues!
Snaboo of Greymane shouted out to the Blizzard posters on the forums. He appreciates that they are being customer focused and social. This elicited positive responses from a handful of blue posters, except Bornakk, who's still grumpy.Some posters disagreed about the attention the blues pay to the community. That they are slow to respond to "serious" questions or that they seem disrespectful of players. Crygil pointed out that in many cases there are several threads on a particular subject. The blues try to address at least one of them, but aren't able to respond in all of the threads on a single topic.
