How News Consumption Affects Mental Well-Being
In this unpredictable world, our daily news streams are dominated by content that ranges from troubling to traumatic.
At some point recently, you may have experienced shock or deep sadness witnessing harrowing global events, from war to natural disasters or attacks on marginalized communities.
While moments of hope exist, they tend to be brief in contrast with the swathes of information about global conflicts, local and national tragedies, and constant crises.
The Psychological Burden of Content Moderation
As public consumers of this news media, we have the freedom to unplug from this information at will and assimilate its impact. Content Moderators (CM) don’t enjoy this luxury, as they are continuously exposed to distressing content and must persevere with it daily.
Other dimensions include the pressures to:
- Accurately identify false or misleading information
- Remain neutral when moderating content that may trigger strong personal biases
- Maintain compliance with evolving policies and regulations
- Address the growing complexities of detection due to the proliferation of Generative AI.
- Deal with prolonged exposure to disturbing material, which can lead to cumulative stress and emotional exhaustion over time.
This article explores why emotional strains associated with these challenges are making moderating news one of the most demanding jobs in Trust and Safety. It also highlights evidence-based strategies to protect these vulnerable workers and reduce harm.
The Emotional and Psychological Impacts of Reviewing Harmful Content
As content moderator mental health becomes increasingly discussed, it is evident that moderating harmful online content can lead to severe psychological distress.
Despite Trust and Safety teams being in place even before they were formally recognized as such, research into the long-term effects of this work remains limited.
Occupations that face ongoing exposure to harmful rhetoric and traumatic experiences provide valuable insights. These include con law enforcement, emergency services, healthcare professionals, journalists, and the broader group of news production staff.
Content Exposure
Content moderation is a demanding field with limited research on its psychological effects.
CMs experience vicarious trauma (VT) from exposure to traumatic news, leading to stress-related symptoms like sleep issues, anxiety, and depression.
They often feel a strong emotional connection to the content and may face pressure to stay resilient despite the toll it takes on their mental health.
Information Integrity and User Conduct
CMs must navigate a complex landscape of false information and harmful user conduct online. AI content moderation is changing how platforms filter content online, yet human moderators remain essential in interpreting nuanced content that AI cannot accurately assess.
Balancing freedom of speech with user safety is challenging, especially amidst calls for stricter moderation and hate speech legislation on social media platforms.
Policy Compliance
CMs often face ethical dilemmas when enforcing platform policies that conflict with their personal beliefs. These dilemmas can lead to stress but also potential growth, similar to findings from research on journalists covering traumatic events.
4 Wellbeing Strategies to Protect Media Content Moderators
Protecting content moderators from the psychological effects of their work requires proactive strategies. These four approaches below help minimize risks, strengthen resilience, and ensure moderators receive the necessary care.
1. Identify Risks to Minimize Psychological Strain
The emotional impact on content moderators (CMs) varies based on context and content type. Employers should assess workload strain, targets, rest breaks, and support to manage CM’s wellbeing effectively.
Implementing wellbeing strategies for media content is essential to mitigating the adverse effects of exposure to disturbing content. Regular risk assessments should identify psychosocial hazards and implement preventive actions.
For instance, technology like affective interface design can lessen the emotional impact by altering how content is presented, like using blurred or greyscale images. Awareness of specific hazards, like news moderation’s pressure for resilience, is critical for risk management.
2. Strengthen Leadership and Support Systems
Content Moderators benefit from extensive support within the Trust and Safety team. Management training is crucial to understanding CMs’ unique challenges and improving operational conditions for better work-life quality.
This includes equipping supervisors with skills to optimize check-ins, discuss sensitive topics, enhance communication, and build relationships.
3. Provide Access to Professional Support
Therapeutic interventions can prevent or address trauma-related risks by promoting healthy coping strategies and strengthening content moderator (CM) resilience.
For intense reactions or emotional dysregulation from news exposure, personalized support from trained psychologists is recommended, given the unpredictable nature of news events.
Regular check-ins with mental health professionals can help prevent burnout and assess suitability for various types of news media work.
4. Encourage Peer Connections
Building resilience in content moderation roles requires strong peer networks and structured wellbeing initiatives. Training programs focused on employee resilience have proven effective in helping manage workplace stress and develop coping strategies to process distressing content.
Organizations must proactively implement group interventions and mental health support systems to ensure moderators feel supported and protected in their roles.
A Holistic Approach to Moderators’ Wellbeing
Our understanding of supporting health and wellbeing at work has advanced significantly in recent years, offering many ways to protect this vulnerable population. Taking a holistic approach that addresses burnout drivers and promotes vitality at work is vital for content moderators (CMs).
Employers must avoid being myopic and consider the broader picture, implementing cohesive interventions across various layers of the CM experience. While CM needs to evolve, we can learn from recent progress to ensure ongoing protection of their health and wellbeing, especially in news media moderation.
We’re Here to Help
Zevo Health promotes a culture of diversity, wellbeing, and inclusion. Join us in shaping a future that prioritizes the wellbeing of those who protect digital spaces.
To learn more about this insightful topic, see our latest Whitepaper: “Effective Wellbeing Strategies for Media Content Moderators.”
