Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Title: Moderating Content-Hosting Platforms
Author-Name:  Robin Ng
Author-Email: robin@robinng.com
Author-Name:  Greg Taylor
Author-Email: greg.taylor@oii.ox.ac.uk
Classification-JEL: D83, L82, L86
Keywords: user-generated content, content moderation, creator economy, media platforms, misinformation


Abstract: We study how content moderation facilitates communication on online platforms. A sender transmits information to a receiver, exerting effort to
signal their truthfulness. Communication fails without moderation because the effort required is prohibitive. Moderation resolves this problem by
making effort a more powerful signal of veracity. However, moderation crowds-out sender effort, decreasing content quality on the platform. A
socially optimal or profit-maximizing policy may therefore involve limited moderation. We study the choice between being a platform or broadcaster,
how moderation influences competition for attention, and the effects of misinformation actors, AI-generated content, and moderator errors on the
sustainability of communication.
  
Note: 
Length: 45
Creation-Date: 2025-08
Revision-Date: 2025-09
File-URL: https://www.crctr224.de/research/discussion-papers/archive/dp698
File-Format: application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:bon:boncrc:CRCTR224_2025_698v2