Lisa Rufiange is one of the many unsung heroes of the online world, dedicating hours of her day to moderating Facebook groups in order to create safe and positive spaces for members. Every morning, she wakes up at 5 a.m. with her partner and immediately checks her Facebook, focusing on the two groups she moderates: Edmonton Moms Community Group and Edmonton Apartment, Houses, Rooms For Rent.
Her morning routine involves sorting through requests to join the group, reviewing requests from users to make anonymous posts, and checking overnight posts to ensure they adhere to the rules and do not need to be removed. This daily task takes at least two to three hours of her time, but Rufiange believes that tackling it in small increments is the best approach to prevent feeling overwhelmed later in the day.
Moderators like Rufiange play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of online communities. They filter out rude, inappropriate, or harmful content to ensure that members have a positive experience. While some moderators are paid for their work, many, like Rufiange, volunteer their time out of a genuine care for the communities they serve.
Despite the challenges they face, including hate, vitriol, death threats, and doxxing, moderators continue their work because they understand the importance of their role. Troy Pavlek, a Reddit moderator for r/Edmonton, spends hours sifting through comments to remove harmful content and maintain a welcoming environment for users. Pavlek emphasizes that moderating is often a thankless job, with moderators facing criticism and negativity from some users.
Bree McEwan, an associate professor at the University of Toronto, explains that moderators encounter various challenges, including dealing with bots and real people who spread negativity. While platforms like Facebook and Reddit have tools to assist moderators in removing harmful content, individuals can still find ways to circumvent these measures. Moderators often rely on each other for support and use group chats to share experiences and strategies.
Despite the difficulties they face, moderators like Rufiange continue their work because they are passionate about helping others and creating safe spaces online. Rufiange emphasizes the importance of providing resources and support to prevent individuals from being scammed or bullied. For her, the satisfaction of knowing that she has helped even one person makes the effort worthwhile.
In conclusion, the work of moderators like Lisa Rufiange is essential for maintaining the positive and safe environment of online communities. Their dedication, resilience, and commitment to serving others make a significant impact on the lives of community members. As users, it is important to appreciate and support the efforts of moderators in order to ensure the longevity and success of online communities.