GITNUXREPORT 2025

Moderation Statistics

Most online communities rely on moderation, yet trust and consistency remain challenges.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

42% of content removal actions are disputed by users who believe their content was unfairly moderated

Statistic 2

39% of users have reported feeling less anxious in communities where moderation actively curbs harassment

Statistic 3

60% of social media platforms have implemented automated moderation tools to detect harmful content

Statistic 4

47% of social media users have encountered misinformation that was rapidly deleted after being flagged

Statistic 5

77% of moderators feel that ongoing training improves their ability to handle complex moderation issues

Statistic 6

73% of online communities have moderation tools that allow for content filtering based on keywords

Statistic 7

67% of online moderators have received formal training in crisis de-escalation techniques

Statistic 8

72% of users support the implementation of AI moderation tools to reduce human workload

Statistic 9

40% ofmoderators report experiencing burnout due to high moderation workload

Statistic 10

62% of moderators believe their efforts significantly reduce online toxicity

Statistic 11

36% of moderators report difficulty in handling hate speech and extreme content

Statistic 12

49% of moderators work on a volunteer basis, highlighting the reliance on unpaid labor

Statistic 13

54% of moderators report feeling adequately supported by management, but 31% feel they lack sufficient resources

Statistic 14

70% of online communities use some form of moderation to maintain a respectful environment

Statistic 15

45% of internet users have witnessed online harassment that was left unmoderated for hours or days

Statistic 16

55% of online communities report that moderation delays often frustrate users trying to report violations

Statistic 17

65% of online platforms use community reporting features as the primary method of moderation

Statistic 18

58% of online forums employ human moderators alongside automated systems

Statistic 19

33% of online communities lack dedicated moderation teams, relying solely on user reporting

Statistic 20

48% of online harassment cases are mitigated or stopped due to effective moderation

Statistic 21

69% of users agree that moderation should strike a balance between free expression and the need to prevent harm

Statistic 22

50% of online communities have established moderation guidelines to ensure consistent enforcement

Statistic 23

54% of content violations are detected through user reports rather than automated moderation

Statistic 24

44% of content removals occur within 24 hours of posting, indicating rapid moderation response times

Statistic 25

63% of platforms have policies in place to moderate content during live events

Statistic 26

83% of social media managers believe that well-structured moderation policies improve user engagement

Statistic 27

46% of online communities have experienced increased moderation challenges following major platform policy changes

Statistic 28

53% of social media platforms regularly review and update their moderation policies based on user feedback

Statistic 29

61% of online platforms use community voting systems to determine moderation actions

Statistic 30

41% of online communities have faced legal challenges related to censorship and moderation practices

Statistic 31

63% of online communities enforce zero tolerance policies on hate speech

Statistic 32

37% of online platforms provide users with options to appeal moderation decisions

Statistic 33

68% of community moderators report that moderate content is often ambiguously defined, complicating enforcement

Statistic 34

76% of platforms have policies for moderating during crisis or emergencies, such as spreading COVID-19 misinformation

Statistic 35

55% of users support restrictions on posts spreading conspiracy theories

Statistic 36

79% of content creators prefer platforms with transparent moderation practices

Statistic 37

41% of online communities feel that moderation has become more difficult due to increasing content volume

Statistic 38

69% of moderators utilize community feedback to improve moderation policies

Statistic 39

Only 20% of users feel confident that online comments are properly moderated

Statistic 40

85% of people believe that some form of moderation is necessary to keep online discussions civil

Statistic 41

52% of users have left an online community due to poor moderation or perceived unfair moderation practices

Statistic 42

78% of respondents think that moderation policies should be transparent and clearly communicated to users

Statistic 43

80% of online communities with active moderation report higher levels of user satisfaction

Statistic 44

72% of users support the idea that moderation efforts should be publicly disclosed to build trust

Statistic 45

65% of users feel safer in online communities with active moderation

Statistic 46

59% of users think moderation should be more consistent across different online platforms

Statistic 47

54% of users believe that automated moderation can sometimes lead to unfair censorship

Statistic 48

79% of adolescents report that online moderation makes them feel safer in digital spaces

Statistic 49

52% of moderators believe that transparency reports improve community trust

Statistic 50

44% of users feel that moderation efforts limit free speech excessively, even in civil discussions

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Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

70% of online communities use some form of moderation to maintain a respectful environment
Only 20% of users feel confident that online comments are properly moderated
60% of social media platforms have implemented automated moderation tools to detect harmful content
45% of internet users have witnessed online harassment that was left unmoderated for hours or days
55% of online communities report that moderation delays often frustrate users trying to report violations
40% ofmoderators report experiencing burnout due to high moderation workload
85% of people believe that some form of moderation is necessary to keep online discussions civil
65% of online platforms use community reporting features as the primary method of moderation
52% of users have left an online community due to poor moderation or perceived unfair moderation practices
62% of moderators believe their efforts significantly reduce online toxicity
47% of social media users have encountered misinformation that was rapidly deleted after being flagged
58% of online forums employ human moderators alongside automated systems
33% of online communities lack dedicated moderation teams, relying solely on user reporting

In a digital world where 85% of people agree that moderation is crucial for civility, yet only 20% of users trust online comments are properly moderated, the challenge of balancing free expression, safety, and efficiency in online communities has never been more urgent.

Community Safety and Dispute Resolution

42% of content removal actions are disputed by users who believe their content was unfairly moderated
39% of users have reported feeling less anxious in communities where moderation actively curbs harassment

Community Safety and Dispute Resolution Interpretation

The data suggests that while nearly half of moderation actions are contested, active moderation that curtails harassment can significantly boost user well-being, highlighting the delicate balance between control and fairness in online communities.

Moderation Tools, Technologies, and Training

60% of social media platforms have implemented automated moderation tools to detect harmful content
47% of social media users have encountered misinformation that was rapidly deleted after being flagged
77% of moderators feel that ongoing training improves their ability to handle complex moderation issues
73% of online communities have moderation tools that allow for content filtering based on keywords
67% of online moderators have received formal training in crisis de-escalation techniques
72% of users support the implementation of AI moderation tools to reduce human workload

Moderation Tools, Technologies, and Training Interpretation

With nearly three-quarters of online communities wielding keyword filters and a significant majority of users backing AI moderation, it’s clear that digital platforms are increasingly relying on automated tools and trained moderators alike to tame the wildfire of harmful content and misinformation; however, the persistent human element remains crucial in navigating the complex nuances of online discourse.

Moderator Well-being and Burnout

40% ofmoderators report experiencing burnout due to high moderation workload
62% of moderators believe their efforts significantly reduce online toxicity
36% of moderators report difficulty in handling hate speech and extreme content
49% of moderators work on a volunteer basis, highlighting the reliance on unpaid labor
54% of moderators report feeling adequately supported by management, but 31% feel they lack sufficient resources

Moderator Well-being and Burnout Interpretation

While nearly half of moderators feel supported, the staggering burnout rate and reliance on volunteers underscore a critical need for systemic change to sustain online safety efforts—because moderating toxic content shouldn't come at the cost of moderators’ well-being.

Online Community Moderation Practices and Policies

70% of online communities use some form of moderation to maintain a respectful environment
45% of internet users have witnessed online harassment that was left unmoderated for hours or days
55% of online communities report that moderation delays often frustrate users trying to report violations
65% of online platforms use community reporting features as the primary method of moderation
58% of online forums employ human moderators alongside automated systems
33% of online communities lack dedicated moderation teams, relying solely on user reporting
48% of online harassment cases are mitigated or stopped due to effective moderation
69% of users agree that moderation should strike a balance between free expression and the need to prevent harm
50% of online communities have established moderation guidelines to ensure consistent enforcement
54% of content violations are detected through user reports rather than automated moderation
44% of content removals occur within 24 hours of posting, indicating rapid moderation response times
63% of platforms have policies in place to moderate content during live events
83% of social media managers believe that well-structured moderation policies improve user engagement
46% of online communities have experienced increased moderation challenges following major platform policy changes
53% of social media platforms regularly review and update their moderation policies based on user feedback
61% of online platforms use community voting systems to determine moderation actions
41% of online communities have faced legal challenges related to censorship and moderation practices
63% of online communities enforce zero tolerance policies on hate speech
37% of online platforms provide users with options to appeal moderation decisions
68% of community moderators report that moderate content is often ambiguously defined, complicating enforcement
76% of platforms have policies for moderating during crisis or emergencies, such as spreading COVID-19 misinformation
55% of users support restrictions on posts spreading conspiracy theories
79% of content creators prefer platforms with transparent moderation practices
41% of online communities feel that moderation has become more difficult due to increasing content volume
69% of moderators utilize community feedback to improve moderation policies

Online Community Moderation Practices and Policies Interpretation

While nearly three-quarters of online communities rely on moderation to keep the digital peace, with over half recognizing that swift, transparent action and balanced policies foster user trust, the persistent challenges of ambiguous guidelines, delayed responses, and rising content volume reveal that maintaining respectful online environments remains a complex dance between free expression and harm prevention.

User Confidence and Perceptions

Only 20% of users feel confident that online comments are properly moderated
85% of people believe that some form of moderation is necessary to keep online discussions civil
52% of users have left an online community due to poor moderation or perceived unfair moderation practices
78% of respondents think that moderation policies should be transparent and clearly communicated to users
80% of online communities with active moderation report higher levels of user satisfaction
72% of users support the idea that moderation efforts should be publicly disclosed to build trust
65% of users feel safer in online communities with active moderation
59% of users think moderation should be more consistent across different online platforms
54% of users believe that automated moderation can sometimes lead to unfair censorship
79% of adolescents report that online moderation makes them feel safer in digital spaces
52% of moderators believe that transparency reports improve community trust
44% of users feel that moderation efforts limit free speech excessively, even in civil discussions

User Confidence and Perceptions Interpretation

Despite overwhelming support for transparent and consistent moderation, a mere 20% of users feel confident in current efforts—highlighting that without clarity and fairness, digital civility remains an elusive goal.