Advancing Research on Content Moderation and Mental Health
We are proud to have been part of a new research project led by Thompson Rivers University, recently submitted for publication in Cyberpsychology. The study explores how content moderators, who review and filter online material, experience and manage the emotional demands of their work.
This research is among the first of its kind to provide systematically collected data on the mental health of commercial content moderators. Content moderators play a crucial role in keeping online spaces safe, yet their wellbeing is rarely studied in a rigorous way. By examining the connections between beliefs about emotions, strategies for coping, and mental health, the project aims to generate insights that can guide better support for those in this challenging role.
Title: What Helps (and Harms) the Mental Health of Content Moderators? New Insights from a Groundbreaking Study
Introduction
Content moderators play a vital but often invisible role in keeping the internet safe. They review disturbing or inappropriate content so the rest of us don’t have to. Yet very little scientific research has been done to understand what this work does to their mental health—or what helps them
cope.
That changes with a new study led by Thompson Rivers University in partnership with Rebuilding Thoughts. This is the first known correlational study that examines how moderators’ beliefs about emotions, and the strategies they use to manage those emotions, relate to their well-being, stress, and risk of burnout or PTSD.
In short: this research helps us finally understand what supports moderators emotionally—and what puts them at risk
Who Was Studied?
The research focused on 53 professional content moderators working across the US, UK, and Canada. All had at least three months of experience in commercial content moderation (paid, not volunteer), and most had been working in this field for several years. Participants were recruited and compensated through Rebuilding Thoughts.
What the Study Looked At
Researchers measured three things:
- Emotion regulation strategies: How moderators typically manage difficult emotions (e.g. by reappraising a situation, blaming
themselves, suppressing expression, etc.) - Emotion beliefs: Whether moderators believed their emotions were controllable or useful
- Mental health symptoms and well-being: Specifically looking at depression, anxiety, stress, PTSD, burnout, and life satisfaction
Key Findings
- PTSD and burnout symptoms are common – 39.6% of participants reported PTSD symptoms at clinically significant levels – 34% showed signs of burnout – Rates of anxiety and depression were lower but still present for some
- Coping strategies make a big difference – Using strategies like rumination, self-blame, catastrophizing, and expressive suppression was linked to worse mental health (more PTSD,depression, anxiety, stress) and lower overall well-being – Using strategies like positive reappraisal,
planning, and emotional nonjudgment was linked to better well-being and fewer symptoms of distress - Beliefs about emotions matter – Moderators who believed their emotions were controllable and
useful were more likely to use helpful coping strategies (like reappraisal) – Those who believedemotions were uncontrollable or harmful were more likely to suppress or ruminate—and had worse mental health outcomes
Why This Study Matters
Other research has looked at burnout, stress, or emotional fatigue in content moderators—but none have mapped the relationship between specific beliefs, coping mechanisms, and mental health symptoms in a formal, correlational way. This is a first.
This also means that we now have a clearer starting point for designing better support. If companies understand which beliefs and coping strategies protect moderators’ mental health, they can design wellness programs, training, and team culture around those insights.
This study shows that simply offering traditional mental health resources (like EAPs or general therapy referrals) may not be enough. For example, Facebook faced a $52 million PTSD settlement in 2020— despite already having support structures in place. Lawsuits in Kenya and Ghana are ongoing.
What works better? Practical skills like emotional acceptance, trauma-informed coping, and role-specific tools that moderators can apply while working and decompressing after shifts.
What Rebuilding Thoughts Is Doing About It
This study isn’t about fear. It’s about understanding. Content moderation is intense, but with the right tools, moderators can build real resilience. Companies who invest in targeted, research-backed mental health support won’t just reduce burnout—they’ll build more connected, capable teams.
Rebuilding Thoughts is proud to lead the way.
Cite the Study
Ortner, C., Armstrong, H., & Hopper, C. (2025). Coping in Content Moderation: The Relationship Between Emotion Beliefs, Emotion Regulation, and Mental Health. Thompson Rivers University.
Open Data Access
Full dataset: https://osf.io/z7exg/files/osfstorage
Media & Legal References
- ABC News. (2020). Facebook to pay $52M settlement to moderators with PTSD.
- The Guardian. (2024). More than 140 Facebook moderators in Kenya diagnosed with PTSD.
- The Guardian. (2025). Meta faces Ghana lawsuits over impact of extreme content on moderators.