Workers Moderating Internet For Graphic Content Experiencing PTSD
Two employees say Microsoft failed to provide them with support as their mental health deteriorated from being exposed to disturbing content on the Internet as part of their jobs.
Sacramento Bee:
Forced To Watch Child Porn For Their Job, Microsoft Employees Developed PTSD, They Say
As part of their job, moderators for social websites have to view some of the most disturbing videos and photos on the internet. Once the employees have determined that the images violate the company’s community standards and the law, they delete the accounts of the people who posted them and report the incidents to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, per federal law. Unsurprisingly, having to watch upsetting content like that every day takes a toll on moderators. But two Microsoft employees say their company, one of the largest in the world, failed to provide them with proper support as their mental health deteriorated and they began showing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. (Hadley, 1/11)