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We've been thinking a lot about how to make Websleuths work better for you. It should be easier to navigate, friendlier to participate in, and freer to explore ideas without compromising the fact-based discussions you've come to expect from us. Websleuths prides itself for being the "adult-in-the-room," grounding discussions in verifiable facts rather than unconfirmed rumors. That hasn't changed.
Why the change? We want to allow a freer exchange of ideas while still maintaining our core belief that Websleuths remains fact-based. This approach lets us mark content that may be problematic while still allowing limited exploration of topics.
www.tmz.com
The content isn't deleted. It's marked. You decide whether to read it. If the post is yours, and you wish to correct the post in order to remove the flag, you can reach out to our moderation team via the Report button and we'd be happy to assist you.
This is part of our ongoing effort to balance open discussion with the accuracy Websleuths is known for.
No. Our mods will still be acting on your reports and handling the flagging. There is no AI associated with this at all.
Will posts still get deleted?
Yes. When the only tool we have is to either delete or leave posts, that means there's no room for nuance or interpretation of our moderation activity. Consequently, more of our moderation can feel arbitrary or capricious. At least now we can recognize that not every violation of our rules warrants deletion. Short answer: we'll still delete posts that are flagrant violations of our rules.
Will we use flagging everywhere?
Not yet -- we're figuring out what kind of impact this new moderation technique has on our users and our moderators. We'll test it a few threads at a time, listen to feedback, and learn how well it works.
We're building this together, and the best way to shape it is to talk it through.
What's Different Now
Instead of deleting every post that breaks our rules, we're now using a flagging system. Flagged content is now blurred with a tooltip to inform you of the rule this content may have violated. We're giving you control whether or not you choose to review it.Why the change? We want to allow a freer exchange of ideas while still maintaining our core belief that Websleuths remains fact-based. This approach lets us mark content that may be problematic while still allowing limited exploration of topics.
What the Flags Mean
When you see a flag on a post, it means our team has identified an issue:- Rumor - Information being discussed elsewhere but not confirmed by reliable sources. Speculation presented as possibility rather than fact.
- No Source - Claims that need citation. Statements of fact without supporting evidence.
- Unverified - Content from unapproved or unknown sources. Links to sites we can't vouch for.
Reported Ex-Husband Arrested in Connection to Ohio Dentist Double Murder
Police have finally arrested a suspect in Dr. Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe's murders ... with officials taking a man named Michael McKee -- reportedly Monique's ex-husband -- into custody.
www.tmz.com
- Off-Topic - Content that strays from the case being discussed. Tangents, personal stories, general chatter.
I've been to the town where the body was found. They have the best burritos there.
The content isn't deleted. It's marked. You decide whether to read it. If the post is yours, and you wish to correct the post in order to remove the flag, you can reach out to our moderation team via the Report button and we'd be happy to assist you.
Why This Matters
We believe you're capable of evaluating information for yourself. Our job is to give you the tools to make your own call. Flags tell you "proceed with caution" rather than removing the content entirely.This is part of our ongoing effort to balance open discussion with the accuracy Websleuths is known for.
We're Always Evolving
We are constantly evolving our approach to providing Websleuths users with the best available information. This flagging system is one step in that direction, and we'll continue refining it based on how it works in practice.Frequently Asked Questions
Is this AI?No. Our mods will still be acting on your reports and handling the flagging. There is no AI associated with this at all.
Will posts still get deleted?
Yes. When the only tool we have is to either delete or leave posts, that means there's no room for nuance or interpretation of our moderation activity. Consequently, more of our moderation can feel arbitrary or capricious. At least now we can recognize that not every violation of our rules warrants deletion. Short answer: we'll still delete posts that are flagrant violations of our rules.
Will we use flagging everywhere?
Not yet -- we're figuring out what kind of impact this new moderation technique has on our users and our moderators. We'll test it a few threads at a time, listen to feedback, and learn how well it works.
We Can Talk About It
We are listening to your feedback! Change can feel uncomfortable, and I get that. If you have questions, concerns, or ideas about how this is working, my DMs are open. I mean that. I read everything, and I'd much rather have a real conversation with you than see concerns spiral in the forums.We're building this together, and the best way to shape it is to talk it through.
