The Trauma Floor

Most of us probably don't think much about what goes on behind the scenes at Facebook. What keeps our news feeds filling up with violent images, porn, or fake news? This article is about the moderators who screen content that users have flagged for review, the toll it takes on them, and how Facebook treats them.

Collectively, the employees described a workplace that is perpetually teetering on the brink of chaos. It is an environment where workers cope by telling dark jokes about committing suicide, then smoke weed during breaks to numb their emotions. It’s a place where employees can be fired for making just a few errors a week — and where those who remain live in fear of the former colleagues who return seeking vengeance.