Guests:
Sharon Fisher, Keywords Studios
Chris James, Modulate

Episode Summary: This episode of Player: Engage Podcast with Greg Posner, featuring Sharon Fisher from Keywords Studios and Chris James from Modulate, delves into the mental health challenges faced by content moderators. It highlights the importance of self-awareness, emotional management, and the need for adequate support systems to mitigate the effects of moderating disturbing content. The guests share valuable insights and strategies, drawing from their professional experiences and collaborations with mental health experts, to help moderators navigate these challenges effectively.

Key Topics & Highlights:

• Understanding the Moderator's Mindset: Exploring the comprehensive framework developed by the speaker, in collaboration with their mental health care team, to address the challenges faced in the role of a moderator. This includes regular self-check-ins and emotional management strategies.
• The Initial Reaction - Dissociation: Discussion on the common response of dissociation when moderators are exposed to disturbing content, highlighting the temporary benefits and the risks of prolonged detachment.
• Maintaining Self-Connection: Insights into the speaker's personal framework for managing emotional states and staying connected with oneself while dealing with disturbing content.
• Therapeutic Techniques for Moderators: The use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), as well as trauma-focused therapy techniques, to manage emotions and maintain self-awareness.
• The Cumulative Impact of Toxic Content: Delving into the psychological and neurological effects of regularly moderating disturbing content, and the importance of recognizing and managing these cumulative impacts to prevent burnout.
• Supporting Moderators: Discussion on the necessity for adequate support, tools, and resources for moderators, including technology's role in content filtering and the importance of escalation pathways.