The Procedural Justice Framework for Tech Professionals
Social media plays an increasingly central role in the information landscape. In the United States, platforms host a substantial portion of national and political discourse, and their regulatory approaches have come under growing scrutiny. This report uses the procedural justice theory to provide a framework for building effective content moderation strategies.
Currently, online platforms primarily rely on a deterrence approach, using punishment to discourage unwanted behavior. Content in violation of applicable rules is taken down, and the platform may sanction an individual with an escalating sequence of punishments from suspension to a permanent ban. The underlying logic is that users follow rules to avoid punishment. This method is not novel and is reflective of our offline criminal legal systems.
Authors: Vivian Zhao, Jackson Akselrad, Matt Katsaros