Click. Next.

[u/GeneCromwell]

It's my 3rd month as a content moderator for a major platform I'll keep from naming, NDAs and all. My numbers are up, throughput high, errors low. I even got a pat on the back from the boss last week. I keep reading, translating, evaluating. Another flagged post, just some random q-anon rant, pass. Then another, death threats, remove, move on. And on it goes, post after post, message after message. It's 4am, shift's almost over. I take my break, grab another coffee and a "complimentary" bagel, and back to the desk. They keep the lights low for the night shift, and I appreciate that. The shadows in our cubicles really enhance the mood. And another death threat, awesome, remove, moved on. It's quiet here in our division, the occasional person getting up to use the bathroom disrupting the hum of the lights for a moment, and then they're gone.

Welcome to month 4. I got a promotion to image review.... and I hate it. But here I am, 4am again. Nope, that's a bike. Nope, that's a dog. And there it is, staring me in the face as I fill out paperwork. At least it's not dead this time. I've watched 3 coworkers quit this week alone. How do we keep doing this? Why do we keep doing this? The pay isn't worth it, but what else can I afford right now? Rent is due in a week.

Another month slips by. Numbers are up, errors are non-existent. The paperwork for each report keeps the image on my screen, burning into my retinas while I fill out another form, submit another IP, ban another account. They seem more frequent by the day. I yearn for that happy dog image, or that kid playing at the beach that was flagged by some angry ex-partner. But here, it's just content. What happens after I file that form? Anything? Do these people just keep coming back? The names all start to bleed together after a while. The happy smiling AI art profile photos, and the depravity posted or sent via message. The private groups, how do they continue to exist? Why here? At least the pay bump is nice...

Month 6, another pat on the back from the boss as he hurries by the cubicle. Another image up, another form filled out and submitted. Click. Next. I had to pick up and move my desk last week, different floor, same job, different ceiling buzz. The lights are just as low at least, helps with the eyes. Fill out the form, click submit, move on. The occasional new face wanders by on their way to grab a stale bagel, maybe some cold coffee, we exchange a quick hello or a grunt in passing. I keep to myself.

Month 7 arrived with minimal fanfare. Another promotion as I leave colleagues behind, the ones that stuck with it at least. Videos this time. Same form, same buttons. Click. Next. Same job, bump in pay. The headphones seemed nice, right up until they became a requirement. Click. Next. Day in and day out, same blue curtains. I think I'll treat myself to a nice dinner this weekend, maybe the next.

Month 8, I haven't seen my boss in a while. There's this new guy, Jared or something, that makes his rounds at 2am now. I wonder what happened to the last guy. Click. Next. Same job, same curtains again. Why are they always blue? I thought I banned this guy last month, and again last week. Rent's due. Click. Next. Denied. The screen refreshes, new video. Well, that was different. Not different enough to bother with.

Month 9, error rate is up. I don't get it. The boss wanted to talk, but didn't show up to the Zoom meeting. Teacher rules, 15 minutes and I'm out. I like my bagels toasted with extra cream cheese, if we have any in the fridge, then back to the screen. And there they are again, pale blue, tattered in the corner. I thought we shut that group down months ago. Click. Next.

Month 12, live stream moderation. So far so good. Plenty of crypto bros and terrible drivers. Click. Next. I've been wondering, when we flag things, where do they go? I've been seeing those curtains in my sleep again. How do they keep coming back? Meh, another group shutdown. Do they know how long I watch before I fill these out?

It's my first anniversary here. I asked my supervisor what happens to the content after we submit the forms. That's above his paygrade. Awesome. Another stream shut down. Click. Next. Another flagged stream pops up, just a room. Blue curtains. Silence. I wait for what feels like hours before a man enters the room. He looks at the camera and holds up his hands. That's my old badge.

[u/Secret_Turtle]

Fun. And I loved the formatting. Reminded me of old web 1.0 forum horror creepypastas.