The Post-Traumatic Stress of Moderators
Former Facebook moderators in Kenya carry a heavy burden. 144 of them have received severe diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder, resulting from constant exposure to horrific content. Among these cases, a young mother, working in Nairobi for over two years, faced unbearable video content such as extreme sexual violence and acts of torture.
Testimonials reveal that these moderators have often developed symptoms such as vomiting, migraines, and nightmares. One highlighted case includes a woman who viewed an individual being dismembered, provoking such a strong emotional reaction that she required a break from her position.
Inadequate Working Conditions
Their working conditions at the subcontracting company Samasource resemble a true nightmare. In a building that is normally corporate, teams operated under glaring lights, in an often cold environment, on uncomfortable chairs. Moderators had to assess each piece of content in a record time of one minute, a nearly impossible task given the shocking nature of what they were examining.
Omnipresent monitoring determined performance levels, creating enormous pressure, at the risk of losing their jobs if results were deemed insufficient. This contributed to a particularly toxic atmosphere, exacerbating existing mental health issues.
Psychological Consequences
The psychological repercussions of their work manifest in various ways. Some former moderators suffer from generalized anxiety, while others face episodes of deep depression. Psychiatric assessments reveal that previously joyful individuals are now marked by intense sadness and uninterrupted frustrations.
A moderator even developed trypophobia, following the repeated visions of larvae emerging from decomposing human hands. This type of repetitive trauma creates deep anxieties, affecting their quality of life and personal relationships.
Legal Fallout
The legal battles undertaken by these moderators target Meta and Samasource. The compensation claim, filed with Kenyan courts, highlights allegations of abusive working conditions, unfair labor practices, and negligence regarding the mental health of employees. These collaborators believe that their suffering has been ignored while the companies were aware of the psychological impacts related to their employment.
Among the grievances are accusations of forced labor, human trafficking, and medical neglect. The complaints also report legislation that seems inadequate to protect these vulnerable workers.
A Collective Reaction and Evasive Support
Meta’s reluctance to comment on these claims has created an atmosphere of uncertainty among the moderators. Constant managerial pressures and staff layoffs have been reported. Unexplained mass layoffs have been perceived as a defensive reaction to complaints. Moderators believe these measures are reprisals against those who dared to oppose management.
While Meta and Samasource claimed to have implemented wellness counselors, these professionals were not necessarily trained to handle mental health crises. As a result, many of these former employees felt abandoned by their employers.
The moderators’ fight for justice underscores the real consequences of content moderation and raises a major ethical question regarding the practices of tech companies: at what cost is maintaining order on social networks?
Long-Term Solutions Required
The ongoing legal process highlights the need to improve the working conditions of moderators worldwide. The actions of Daniel Motaung and other former employees submit an essential request: the professionalization of these positions to ensure adequate protection for workers. Discussions on the importance of mental health in the tech sector are becoming increasingly urgent.
The harm to the moderators’ health highlights a system that tolerates exploitation. Structural changes are necessary to prevent such cases from recurring in the future. The tech sector must commit to better mental health care for those who maintain the safety of digital platforms.
FAQ on Post-Trauma, Depression, and Anxiety: The Legal Battle of Former Facebook Moderators in Kenya
What are the symptoms of post-trauma among former Facebook moderators?
Former moderators often suffer from symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, persistent anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders, resulting from exposure to traumatic content.
How has the moderation work on Facebook affected the mental health of workers in Kenya?
Moderation work has led to major mental health issues among workers, including cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety, due to continuous exposure to violent and disturbing content.
What legal recourse do Kenyan moderators have regarding their mental health situation?
The moderators have initiated lawsuits against Meta and Samasource, alleging that their employers were responsible for the mental harm caused by inhumane working conditions and a lack of adequate psychological support.
What types of support were offered to moderators during their employment?
Samasource and Meta offered wellness counselors, but these professionals were not qualified to provide psychiatric support, limiting their effectiveness in addressing the mental health issues of moderators.
What types of content caused the most distress among moderators?
Moderators were exposed to graphic content such as videos of murders, extreme violence, and sexual abuse, which profoundly impacted their psyche and contributed to their mental suffering.
Have there been any precedents for complaints regarding similar cases internationally?
Yes, there are several precedents, including complaints from moderators in the United States who received compensations for mental disorders resulting from their work, which could assist similar cases in Kenya.
What is Meta’s position on the mental health allegations of moderators?
Meta refuses to comment on individual cases during the course of the litigation but claims that technical solutions and support were offered to minimize exposure to disturbing content.
How do former moderators in Kenya feel about the lack of psychological support during their work?
Former moderators often feel abandoned, lacking essential resources to manage their mental health. They express a deep sense of isolation and despair in the face of their job requirements.
What are the long-term impacts on the mental health of former moderators?
Long-term impacts may include a chronicization of disorders such as PTSD, generalized anxiety, and depression, affecting their quality of life, relationships, and ability to work after their experience with Facebook.
What hope do moderators have with their legal action?
Moderators hope to achieve recognition of their struggles, compensation for their suffering, and improvement of working conditions for current and future moderation employees.
