If you are reading this, you might be someone looking to learn more about mental health in the workplace, especially for content moderators. Or you are a company considering hiring Kenyan freelancers for content moderation work.
Either way, this article will give you clear, vital information you need to understand about the people who keep the online world safe, content moderators, and the toll their job takes on their mental health.
At Chepchieng and Company Advocates, we care deeply about workers’ rights and mental health in the workplace. We want companies and individuals to understand content moderators’ challenges so that proper support and legal protections can be implemented.
Let’s begin by explaining what content moderation is and why mental health in the workplace, especially content moderation is essential for everyone connected to online work.
What Is Content Moderation and Why Does It Matter?
Content moderation means reviewing the material that users post online, including social media posts, comments, photos, videos, and more.
Content moderators check if content is harmful or dangerous, like hate speech, violence, or adult content. If they find harmful content, they remove or report it so platforms stay safe for all users.
Because the internet is vast and full of different types of content, many companies hire freelancers or workers in countries like Kenya to do this vital job.
Kenyan freelancers doing content moderation are becoming popular because of their skills and lower costs. However, working as a content moderator is not an easy job.
Why Mental Health in the Workplace Is Critical for Content Moderators
When you start thinking about mental health in the workplace for content moderators, it’s necessary to understand how stressful this job can be. Mental health content moderation challenges come from the kinds of content moderators see daily.
They are often exposed to graphic violence, abusive language, and other harmful material. This causes psychological distress that content moderators experience frequently.
Many content moderators have PTSD in content moderation work. PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is usually linked to people who have experienced very frightening or harmful events.
Content moderators can develop PTSD, too, because of constant exposure to upsetting online content.
We call this secondary trauma content moderation, or the vicarious trauma that content moderators go through. It happens because moderators are repeatedly seeing harmful things that affect their mental health, even though they are not the direct victims.
Some workers even face moral injury from content moderation. This means the job makes them feel bad about their values.
Imagine you work removing harmful posts, but you can’t stop the real harm that happens in the world. This feeling, over time, can seriously impact their mental state.
All these issues create a heavy emotional labor that content moderation workers carry. Without enough mental health support for content moderators, this leads to burnout that content moderators often experience.
This is why it is necessary to invest on mental health in the workplace, especially for online workers.
The Reality of Kenyan Freelancers Doing Content Moderation Work
Recently, a BBC documentary showed the harsh reality of outsourced content moderation jobs in Kenya.
Many companies hire Kenyan workers for content moderation, but underpay them and give them heavy workloads. This is a classic case of hidden cost content moderation jobs put on workers.
The workers are often exposed to content moderation work stress and face many psychosocial hazards that content moderation brings. These risks, combined with long hours, low pay, and little support, make content moderators’ workplace safety a severe concern.
Understanding these conditions is necessary for companies considering hiring Kenyan freelancers for content moderation. This also helps to know why investors and third party companies outsourcing workers in Kenya, need to invest in mental health in the workplace.
If you want the best performance and a fair, responsible work environment, mental health strategies for content moderators must be part of your business plan.
What Legal Rules Affect Content Moderation and Mental Health?
When it comes to content moderation law, the rules are slowly developing. Governments try to make online spaces safer with laws like the Online Safety Act content moderation provisions in some countries and the Digital Services Act content moderation rules in the European Union. These aim to make companies responsible for the content shared on their platforms.
However, most content moderation regulations focus on protecting users from harmful content. Less attention is paid to the content moderators’ mental health in the workplace, and their overall well-being.
Because of this, many content moderators suffer from burnout or psychological distress due to poor working conditions. Media law and content moderation regulations often do not include explicit protections for mental health in the workplace for content moderators
There is growing talk about content moderation accountability law and how to bring more balance between protecting online users and protecting the workers behind the scenes.
Laws like the AI Act content moderation transparency proposals focus on how automated systems work, but human moderators still carry a significant emotional burden that content moderation involves.
At Chepchieng and Company Advocates, we support better legal protections to ensure content moderators get the care and respective mental health in the workplace, as they deserve.
Why Mental Health Support for Content Moderators Is Essential
Suppose you want to hire Kenyan freelancers for content moderation or run your moderation team.
In that case, you need to understand that mental health support for content moderators is not optional but necessary.
Good work environments offer:
- Access to counseling or psychological support services
- Breaks away from disturbing content to prevent overload
- Stress management content moderation training
- Well-being programs for content moderators focused on mental health in the workplace
- Content moderation peer support groups where workers can share experiences and advice
- Easy access to mental health resources, content moderation workers can use anytime during or outside work hours
These supports help prevent vicarious trauma that content moderation workers may face. They also help lower burnout content moderators suffer and improve overall work quality.
How Companies Can Help Prevent Mental Health Risks Content Moderation Brings
Companies hiring Kenyan freelancers or other workers for content moderation must build mental health strategies for content moderators into their business.
Here are some practical steps companies should take to improve mental health in the workplace:
1. Provide Clear Mental Health Policies: Let employees know the company cares about mental health and has rules to support it.
2. Ensure Reasonable Workloads: Avoid overworking freelancers or staff. Quality moderation is better than speed with no support.
3. Offer Mental Health Resources: Make available counselors, support lines, or mental health apps.
4. Train Managers and Workers: Teach everyone about the psychological distress content moderators face and the coping strategies content moderation stress requires.
5. Regular Check-Ins: Managers should regularly ask workers how they feel and if they need help.
6. Encourage Peer Support: Create spaces where content moderators connect to share stories and tips on mental health.
7. Fair Compensation: Pay fairly for the challenging nature of this work.
8. Create a Safe Work Environment: Not just physically, but mentally safe by reducing exposure times to harmful content and providing mental breaks.
What Can Kenyan Freelancers Expect and Ask For?
If you are a Kenyan freelancer thinking about working as a content moderator, knowing that mental health in the workplace is your right is essential. You should ask potential employers or companies the following questions before accepting work:
- Do you offer mental health support for content moderators?
- What are the work hours and breaks?
- How do you protect workers from the emotional burden of content moderation?
- Is there training on stress management, content moderation, and mental health strategies for content moderators?
- How much will I be paid, and are the wages fair?
- Are there peer support groups or programs available?
- What is your policy on content moderators’ workplace safety, including mental health?
If companies cannot give you clear answers, it might be a sign to look for a better employer or seek legal advice.
Legal Help Is Available for Workers and Companies
If you or your company needs help understanding or improving conditions under content moderation law, Chepchieng and Company Advocates is here to assist.
We specialize in media law and content moderation legal issues, including mental health support for content moderators.
We help:
- Workers protect their rights and mental health protections
- Companies comply with content moderation regulations legally and ethically
- Address work-related psychological distress content moderators face
- Improve policies on content moderation, occupational health, and workplace safety
- Navigate legal impact on content moderation with a focus on mental health in the workplace
When you work with a law firm experienced in this area like Chepchieng and Company Advocates, you get professional advice to create safe, supportive work environments.
Final Words
Content moderation is an essential job that protects online users every day. But the mental health risks content moderation workers face are real and serious.
Psychological distress content moderators suffer, PTSD in content moderation cases, and secondary trauma content moderation lead to problems that cannot be ignored.
Understanding and acting on mental health in the workplace is essential for companies that want to hire Kenyan freelancers or grow their content moderation teams.
It’s not only about compliance with content moderation accountability law or regulations. It is about respecting and supporting the people doing this challenging work.
If you want to learn more or need legal support around content moderation, mental health in the workplace or occupational health, contact Chepchieng and Company Advocates. We are here to help you build better, healthier work environments for content moderators everywhere.
Thank you for investing time to understand this critical topic. Together, let’s improve mental health in the workplace for content moderators and protect those who protect the internet.
