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Is Quora Moderation Biased Against Certain Users and Their Posts?
Is Quora Moderation Biased Against Certain Users and Their Posts?
The age-old question of whether Quora moderation practices are biased against certain users and their posts continues to be a topic of debate. As someone who has faced seemingly targeted moderation actions, I want to shed some light on the mechanics of Quora moderation to clarify any misunderstandings.
Understanding Quora Moderation
Quora moderation is primarily crowd-sourced, relying heavily on user reports to take any action. There is also an algorithmic sweep where certain trigger words or phrases can prompt attention to posts from the automated response system. For the automated system to take any action, it generally requires multiple reports of perceived violations.
There are rare occasions when a single report can trigger action, such as when the author of an answer reports comments on their own answer. However, it is important to note that there is no human interaction at this initial level. The only time a human moderator might become involved is during the appeal stage, and even then, it's highly unlikely.
Quora employs only a very small team of human moderators for a platform with over 300 million users. This explains the limited scope of human intervention in the moderation process.
Quora as a Business
Quora is fundamentally a business, aimed at generating revenue primarily through advertisements. The company aims to maintain a balance between allowing content that might attract more users and keeping the platform free of content that could deter users.
Repugnant or morally reprehensible content can lead to a boycott of the companies advertising on Quora, which can negatively impact the platform's revenue. On the other hand, content that is humorous, thoughtful, and thought-provoking can attract more users, leading to higher ad revenues and overall business growth.
Personal Experiences and Perceptions
During one of my online sessions on Quora, I received notifications about eight of my answers being moderated. These answers were all on the same theme, addressing the gender divide, but they were factually accurate. Some of these answers were also deemed as aligning with the mainstream view towards women, which may upset certain users.
While I believe in the principle of karma, my initial perception was that it might have been targeted by a single user going through my answers and tagging them, or possibly a moderator targeting me personally. However, a more logical explanation is that the moderate system or a specific moderator might have taken it as a pattern and flagged them.
What is clear is that the same rules are applicable to all users, and these rules were agreed upon by everyone when they signed up. However, the implementation of these rules can sometimes appear biased, especially in cases where the content is perceived to challenge certain beliefs or viewpoints.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Quora's moderation practices are designed to be fair and impartial, the system can occasionally appear to target specific users and their posts. It is important to remember that crowd-sourced reports and algorithmic sweeps are the primary driving forces behind these actions.
As a user, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the guidelines and understand that even though the system may seem biased at times, it is ultimately following the rules agreed upon by all users.