How are companies balancing the need to protect users with the mental health of employees working in content moderation? Content moderation plays a critical role in creating safer online spaces. According to Statista, Facebook removed 5.8 million pieces of hate speech content during the fourth quarter of 2024 alone. Statista also reported that during the first quarter of 2025, approximately 211.19 million TikTok videos were removed from the platform — up by almost 32 percent compared to the previous quarter. These removals were due to: minor safety (30.6%), illegal activities and regulated goods (27.2%), adult nudity and sexual activities (14.7%), and other content deemed harmful by the platform such as harassment, bullying, and violent content.
From social media platforms to ecommerce sites, trained professionals in trust and safety teams work behind the scenes to filter harmful, illegal, or offensive content. While their efforts protect users, the work can come at a significant cost to the moderators themselves. Prolonged exposure to disturbing material can lead to stress, anxiety, and burnout if proper safeguards aren’t in place.
For many organizations, outsourcing content moderation has become a strategic way to scale operations, access global talent, and maintain 24/7 protection for their platforms. But outsourcing isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about balancing business growth with the ethical responsibility to protect moderators and communities alike.
Isn’t Content Moderation Conducted Entirely by AI?
It’s a common misconception that content moderation is handled completely by artificial intelligence. While AI plays a critical role in filtering massive volumes of user-generated content, it cannot replace human judgment in trust and safety operations. Automated systems are highly effective at detecting spam, nudity, or other clear-cut violations at scale, but they often struggle with context, cultural nuance, and gray areas—such as satire, political speech, or coded language.
This is where human moderators are essential. Trained professionals review flagged content to ensure decisions are fair, accurate, and aligned with community standards. They provide the context-sensitive analysis that algorithms alone cannot achieve. In most cases, the strongest content moderation models combine AI efficiency with human oversight, creating a hybrid system that balances speed with accuracy.
In short, AI reduces the burden on people by handling repetitive and obvious cases, but human moderators remain the backbone of effective trust and safety strategies.
So, how can companies ensure the well-being of content moderation employees?
Here are key strategies to protect employees and support sustainable trust and safety operations.
- Prioritize Mental Health Support
Content moderators are often exposed to traumatic imagery and language. Employers should provide access to mental health resources, such as counseling, therapy sessions, and wellness programs. Regular check-ins, anonymous reporting channels, and resilience training can help employees cope with the psychological challenges of content moderation.
- Rotate Workloads and Limit Exposure
Instead of requiring moderators to continuously review harmful content, organizations can rotate tasks to balance workloads. Alternating between routine reviews and potentially distressing content reduces prolonged exposure and minimizes emotional fatigue. Trust and safety leaders should also implement daily or weekly caps to ensure moderators don’t spend excessive hours on high-risk material.
- Invest in AI and Automation
AI-powered tools can handle much of the repetitive, high-volume screening in content moderation, leaving human moderators to focus on nuanced decision-making. By reducing the sheer number of harmful posts that employees must view, companies not only improve efficiency but also protect moderators’ mental health. Automation isn’t about replacing people—it’s about safeguarding them.
- Build a Supportive Trust and Safety Culture
Creating a culture of openness and support within trust and safety teams is crucial. Regular team debriefings, peer support groups, and ongoing training help moderators feel less isolated in their work. Leadership should openly acknowledge the difficulties of content moderation, reinforcing that employee well-being is as important as platform safety.
- Provide Adequate Training and Clear Guidelines
Uncertainty adds to stress. Companies should offer comprehensive training that prepares moderators for the realities of their roles, while also giving them clear, consistent guidelines. Well-defined policies empower moderators to make confident decisions without second-guessing, reducing emotional strain and ensuring fairness in enforcement.
Outsourcing for Scalable Trust and Safety
As online platforms grow, many companies turn to outsourcing in order to scale their trust and safety operations. Outsourcing provides access to trained professionals around the world who can monitor user-generated content 24/7, ensuring platforms remain safe and compliant with community standards. For fast-growing businesses, outsourcing offers flexibility and cost efficiency while maintaining high-quality moderation coverage.
Reasons Companies Outsource Content Moderation
Managing content moderation in-house can be resource-intensive. It requires continuous recruitment, specialized training, multilingual expertise, and round-the-clock staffing. By outsourcing, companies gain immediate access to trained professionals who specialize in trust and safety work.
Some of the key benefits include:
- Scalability: Outsourcing allows companies to ramp up or down quickly as user activity fluctuates.
- Global Coverage: Distributed teams can provide moderation in multiple languages and time zones.
- Specialized Expertise: Many outsourcing providers are experienced in handling sensitive categories like hate speech, misinformation, and graphic content.
- Cost Efficiency: Building and maintaining large internal moderation teams can be expensive; outsourcing offers a more flexible alternative.
The Benefits of Outsourcing Content Moderation
Outsourcing gives companies the ability to quickly expand moderation teams without the challenges of hiring, training, and managing large in-house departments. Many outsourcing partners specialize in trust and safety, bringing expertise in policy enforcement, risk management, and sensitive content handling.
With global teams, platforms can achieve faster response times, multilingual moderation, and around-the-clock support—critical factors in keeping harmful or illegal content off the internet.
Balancing Outsourcing with Employee Well-Being
While outsourcing is effective, it also raises questions about how to protect moderators’ mental health across diverse regions and cultures. Leading outsourcing providers now integrate wellness programs, mental health counseling, and AI-driven tools to reduce harmful content exposure for their employees.
When choosing a content moderation partner, companies should evaluate not just operational capacity but also the provider’s commitment to moderator safety and ethical trust and safety practices.
Building a Healthier Future for Content Moderation
Content moderators are the backbone of trust and safety, but the hidden toll of their work is too often overlooked. By investing in mental health support, workload management, AI assistance, and a supportive culture, companies can protect their employees while maintaining safer digital communities. After all, protecting moderators is not just a responsibility—it’s essential for the long-term sustainability of content moderation.
Choosing the Right Content Moderation Partner
Not all outsourcing providers are the same. When evaluating potential partners, businesses should consider:
- Industry expertise: Does the provider have proven experience in trust and safety for your industry?
- Cultural alignment: Are moderators trained in cultural nuances to ensure fair enforcement of policies worldwide?
- Employee well-being programs: How does the partner protect the mental health of their moderators?
- Scalability and technology: Can the provider integrate AI tools and scale operations as your platform grows?
By asking the right questions, companies can build a sustainable, ethical, and effective outsourced content moderation model.
The Future of Outsourced Content Moderation
As platforms continue to grow, outsourcing will remain a vital part of trust and safety strategies. With advancements in AI and increasing awareness of moderator well-being, the industry is moving toward more sustainable models that protect both users and employees.
Companies that prioritize ethical outsourcing will not only protect their communities but also strengthen their reputation as responsible digital leaders. In the end, safe online spaces depend on a partnership between technology, people, and global collaboration.
Content Moderation with Gear Inc
Gear Inc was recognized with a 2024 Business Management Excellence Award for Health & Wellness Initiative of the Year. We have a curated employee wellbeing program available to all individuals from the moment they are considered for a role on our team, until long after they separate from the company.
Robust onboarding and extensive training combined with individual and group sessions, wellbeing resources, crisis plans, and an offboarding program, Gear Inc is a great place to work and a leading global outsourcing partner. Connect with us to learn more about our content moderation expertise, employee wellbeing programs, or how we can help your business achieve scalable growth with safe user environments.
