Redefining the Scope of Content Moderation Activity on Digital Platforms

Abstract

The spread of digital platforms as arenas for diverse social relations prompts debate surrounding the regulation of these environments, in contrast to the proposition of absolute freedom of expression. This text argues that this discussion has been conducted from a reductionist perspective, considering only the text of the post, disregarding other equally relevant elements of the digital ecosystem that can interfere in the construction of the message. The research presented here developed from a dialectical approach; regarding its objective, it employs a descriptive and exploratory method. By deepening the understanding of the relationship between communication and the environment in which it develops, the text identifies the mechanisms currently used in response to abusive or unwanted messages, and then proposes minimum components to be considered in a regulatory framework intended to be effective in disciplining pathological behaviors in the exercise of individual expression.