# Governing for Free: Rule Process Effects on Reddit Moderator Motivations

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2206.05629 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.05629/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 11 Jun 2022.

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [Multilingual Content Moderation: A Case Study on Reddit](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.09618/) (2023)
- [Detecting Reddit Users with Depression Using a Hybrid Neural Network SBERT-CNN](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.02759/) (2023)
- [Exploiting Explainability to Design Adversarial Attacks and Evaluate Attack Resilience in Hate-Speech Detection Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.18585/) (2023)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Developing a strong community requires empowered leadership capable of overcoming governance challenges. New online platforms have given users opportunities to practice governance through content moderation roles. The over 2.8 million "subreddit" communities on Reddit are governed by hundreds of thousands of volunteer moderators, many of whom have no training or prior experience in a governing role. While moderators often devote daily time to community maintenance and cope with the emotional effects of hate comments or disturbing content, Reddit provides no compensation for this position. Thus, moderators' internal motivations and desire to continue filling this role is critical for their community. Drawing upon the relationship between governance procedures and internalized motivation, we investigate how the processes through which subreddit moderators generate community rules increase moderators' motivation through the meeting of social-psychological needs: Procedural Justice and Self Determination, and Self-Other Merging. Preliminary analysis of survey data from 620 moderators across Reddit shows a correlation between moderators' administrative behaviors and the social-psychological needs underpinning their motivations. Understanding these relationships will allow us to empower moderators to build engaging and cooperative online communities.