Moderator Mayhem
| Moderator Mayhem | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Copia, Leveraged Play |
| Publisher(s) | Engine |
| Engine | Vue.js |
| Platform(s) | web browser |
| Release | May, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Casual |
Moderator Mayhem is a casual web-based video game designed by Engine, Randy Lubin, and Mike Masnick of Techdirt targeted towards policymakers.[1][2] The game is about the challenges of content moderation of user-generated content on social media.[2]
According to Cory Doctorow, the video game is based on a card game Masnick used to teach people about the difficulties of content moderation.[tw 1][tw 2]
It is designed for mobile phones but can also be played on personal computers.
Gameplay
The player acts as a content moderator for a fictional social media company and requires decision making under time pressure,[3]: 11:44 getting feedback from a manager character along the way.[1] In later rounds, the player is required to judge appeals, or rely on the advice of an AI-based content moderation system.[1][tw 3][tw 4] The gameplay is primarily swipe-based.[2][tw 2]
While the gameplay describes the topics content moderators encounter in real life, it does not display prohibited content.[1]
Reception
Moderator Mayhem was recognized as a way to better understand content moderation and the effect of policy thereon. The hosts of This Week in Google podcast said the game demonstrates how policies affect people, and that the game itself is an example of journalism.[3]: 12:38 Doctorow suggests it as important to discussions of content moderation, [tw 5] because of the impact of technology regulation on people's lives.[tw 6] Business Punk magazine suggests it may help the player appreciate the difficulty of the task of content moderation,[4] while Rob Pegoraro of PC Magazine said the game showed him he did not want a job as a content moderator.[1] Inforrm noted the game's relevance to discussions of legal compliance, media safety and free speech.[5]
External links
References
- ^ a b c d e Pegoraro, Rob (May 15, 2023). "Think You Can Be a Content Moderator? Test Your Skills With This Game". PCMag. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
- ^ a b c Robertson, Adi (May 11, 2023). "I am going to win content moderation, something that is both normal to want and possible to achieve". The Verge.
- ^ a b Leo Laporte; Jeff Jarvis; Stacey Higginbotham; Ant Pruitt (May 17, 2023). "This Week in Google 716: It's Pronounced Papyri". twit.tv (Podcast). TWiT.tv. Event occurs at 7:24-13:52 (11:44, 12:17, 12:38, 13:13). Retrieved 2023-07-05.
- ^ Business Punk Redaktion (May 15, 2023). "Bei diesem Spiel könnt ihr eure Fähigkeiten als Content-Moderator:in testen". Business Punk. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
- ^ "Global Freedom of Expression, Columbia University: Newsletter w/e 3 June 2023". Inforrm's Blog. June 3, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
Microblog
- ^ Doctorow, Cory [@doctorow] (May 13, 2023). "Moderator Mayhem started life as a card-game that @mmasnick used to teach policy wonks about the real-world issues with content moderation. You play a mod who has to evaluate content moderation flags from users while a timer ticks down. 7/" (Tweet). Retrieved 2023-07-07 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Doctorow, Cory [@doctorow] (May 13, 2023). "The card-game version is legendary but required a lot of organization to play, and the web version (which is better in a mobile browser, thanks to a swipe-left/right mechanic) is something you can pick up in seconds. 10/" (Tweet). Retrieved 2023-07-07 – via Twitter.
- ^ Doctorow, Cory [@doctorow] (May 13, 2023). "As you race to evaluate users' posts for policy compliance, you're continuously interrupted. Sometimes, it's "helpful" suggestions from the company's AI that wants you to look at the posts it flagged. 8/" (Tweet). Retrieved 2023-07-07 – via Twitter.
- ^ Doctorow, Cory [@doctorow] (May 13, 2023). "Sometimes, it's your boss who wants you to do a trendy "visioning" exercise or warning you about a "sensitivity." Often, it's angry ref-working from users who want you to re-consider your calls. 9/" (Tweet). Retrieved 2023-07-07 – via Twitter.
- ^ Doctorow, Cory [@doctorow] (May 13, 2023). "This isn't merely highly recommended; I think that one could legitimately refuse to discuss content moderation policies and critiques with anyone who hasn't played it; https://moderatormayhem.engine.is 11/" (Tweet). Retrieved 2023-07-07 – via Twitter.
- ^ Doctorow, Cory [@doctorow] (May 13, 2023). "Or maybe that's too harsh. After all, #TechPolicy is a game that everyone can play - and more importantly, it's a game everyone *should* play. The contours of #TechRegulation and implementation touch rub up against nearly every aspect of our lives. 12/" (Tweet). Retrieved 2023-07-07 – via Twitter.