Words alone often cannot convey an idea, making the content dull.
Brands that use high-quality images and graphics entice customers more. Similarly, companies utilize logos to represent their brands, which separates the company from its competitors.
While a visual representation has a strong emotional influence on consumers, some may contain explicit content. This may also affect your brand image and cause you to lose clients.
This is why image moderation is a critical factor to consider to maintain your brand reputation.
Defining image moderation
Image moderation is a type of content moderation that involves reviewing and approving content posted on a website or platform. This ensures the images are appropriate and aligned with the organization’s standards.
Businesses have different standards for image moderation.
For instance, Facebook applies its community standards to images that violate its content restrictions. Accounts that violate this policy will be subject to account termination or suspension.
Some companies allow explicit content, such as Tumblr — as long as it’s tagged with the appropriate community labels. Visual portrayals of sexually explicit behaviors, on the other hand, are still prohibited on this platform.
Image moderation is typically required when one or more of the following situations apply to a brand’s online community:
- The brand’s services target young audiences.
- People who partner with the brand’s online community contribute several image content daily.
- The company primarily relies on images to determine audience engagement and participation.
- Online activities involving the usage of images are organized for a specific audience.
- The website is designed to provide instructions or guides on themes associated with the supplied services.
- The company has a respectable reputation in the industry and must prevent offensive and scandalous information from tarnishing it.
3 different types of image moderation
Human-powered image moderation will be unable to manage large quantities of explicit and non-explicit content to modify once anxiety and stress set in.
Keep in mind that content moderators face disturbing images that could be detrimental to their mental health.
Here are the different types of image moderation your moderators may choose to utilize:
1. Automated moderation
Automated image moderation is supported by application programming interfaces (API) meant to speed up and increase the adaptability of the monitoring process.
The API may be connected to a website or an app for image moderation. It can automatically recognize and remove specific material from submitted photographs.
This form of image moderation is an excellent option for large quantities of visual material community members upload. It quickly identifies and removes duplicate material to avoid spam cases.
However, because it’s an AI-powered moderation, it does not include conscious monitoring and may remove or report non-explicit images.
2. Manual moderation
In manual moderation, there should be great attention to detail. Given that a human content moderator has a limited capability than AI, it’s not ideal for huge organizations that produce large volumes of visual content.
Instead, this type of image moderation is well suited for small or medium-sized organizations with fewer content images.
3. Hybrid moderation
Hybrid moderation is considered a more feasible method for filtering content to compensate for the limitations of automated moderation.
As such, this image moderation integrates manual and automatic moderation into a single process.
Businesses might first employ AI to process vast quantities of photos. And since AI-powered moderation does not consciously monitor visual content, human moderators will evaluate and confirm the filtered content.
Guidelines for effective image moderation
Here are the most important considerations when developing standards for image moderation services:
Format
A proper format for image moderation guarantees that any graphics submitted to your website are suitable and consistent with your brand’s values.
The image formatting should include criteria for proper image dimensions, resolution, and content. Specify whether the image should be in PNG, GIF, or JPEG format.
Note that image format depends on the type of industry. For instance, if you are a fashion business, you may choose to provide criteria for suitable attire and accessory pictures.
Context
Most contents are aimed by businesses to be user-friendly.
Image moderators must ensure that the themes and characteristics depicted in the photographs fit with what the brand wants to promote.
Part of image moderation is examining the image’s description. Including legitimate references adds value to the company’s integrity — ultimately increasing brand credibility.
Originality
Originality in image moderation is a critical matter.
Brand moderators must guarantee that their photos are regulated not only for quality but also for authenticity. They may accomplish this by uploading the image to a duplicate finder system.
Do this to avoid copyright infringements that may result in expensive legal action.
Image moderation: Key to success in brand marketing
Overall, through image moderation, organizations can ensure that all images used in their marketing campaigns are appropriate and high-quality.
Image moderation also helps protect brands from potential legal issues and any negative publicity that could arise from inappropriate images.
OP360 offers content moderation services and innovative technologies and methods in the hands of highly qualified moderators. Their team can moderate about 7 million pieces of material annually, resulting in a far more effective procedure for its clients.
To protect your consumers from the growing trust and safety issues businesses and platforms face, keep this guide in mind and ensure your brand is represented positively!
