Ask HN: Webmasters, how do you deal with harmful content?

2 pointsscsteps2 comments

I would like to create my own forum, but concerned about the possibility of users uploading harmful images. Does anyone have any experience implementing an automated system that detects and blocks harmful content or running a user generated content website in general?

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the biggest advice I'd give is to be proactive rather than reactive, screenshots last forever. In terms of proactivity, the easiest way is user vetting, the hardest is real moderators. The second biggest piece of advice is to emphasize concentration via invisible limitation, people are less willing to post harmful things when they're with people who know them, when their reputation actually matters. Image moderation is also quite hard. Notice the level of civility on HN, now notice what feature it lacks. Images create asymmetry, in text, we're all equal

Wow, these are all great suggestions, thank you! Especially creating an environment where their reputation matters is an interesting point. My biggest concern is images more than text (though they can both cause a lot of damage). If it takes that much manpower I might not even allow any images in the first place like HN.

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