What it means
Automated classifiers and human reviewers flag content categories (hate, violence, sexual content, PII) and enforce actions (block, blur, warn, escalate).
Why designers should care
Moderation affects tone of refusals, appeal flows, age gates, and trauma-sensitive defaults, especially for consumer-facing creative AI.
Example
A public gallery blurs flagged images, shows why content was limited, and gives creators an appeal form with status tracking, not a permanent unexplained ban.
Common mistakes
- Opaque bans with no category, timestamp, or appeal path.
- Moderation messages that leak sensitive classifier details to attackers.
- Different moderation standards between free and paid tiers without disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
What is Moderation?
Moderation is the process of detecting and handling harmful, abusive, off-brand, or policy-violating content in AI inputs and outputs.
Why should designers care about Moderation?
Moderation affects tone of refusals, appeal flows, age gates, and trauma-sensitive defaults, especially for consumer-facing creative AI.
What are common mistakes with Moderation?
Opaque bans with no category, timestamp, or appeal path; Moderation messages that leak sensitive classifier details to attackers; Different moderation standards between free and paid tiers without disclosure.