When Solomon* entered the gleaming Octagon Tower in Accra, Ghana, he was embarking on his journey as a meta content moderator. Tasked with removing harmful content from social media, he faced a challenging yet rewarding role.
However, just two weeks into his training, he encountered a much darker side of the job than he had anticipated.
“I initially didn’t encounter graphic content, but eventually, it escalated to images of beheadings, child abuse, bestiality, and more. The first time I saw that content, I was completely taken aback.”
Octagon Building in Accra. Photo: foxglove
“Eventually, I became desensitized and began to normalize what I was seeing. It was disturbing to find myself watching beheadings and child abuse.”
“I’ll never forget that day,” Solomon recounted, having arrived from East Africa in late 2023. “The system doesn’t allow you to skip. You must view it for a minimum of 15 seconds.”
In one particular video, a woman from his homeland cried for help as several assailants attacked her.
He noted that this exposure was increasingly unsettling. One day there were no graphic videos, but as a trend emerged, suddenly around 70-80% of the content became graphic. He gradually felt “disconnected from humanity.”
In the evenings, he returned to shared accommodations provided by his employer, the outsourcing firm Telepelforming, where he faced issues related to privacy, water, and electricity.
When Solomon learned of his childhood friend’s death, it shattered his already fragile mental state. He was Broken, feeling trapped in his thoughts, and turned to Telepelforming for a temporary escape until he could regain his composure.
Isolating himself for two weeks, he admitted, “I began to spiral into depression. I stopped eating and sleeping, smoking day in and day out. I was never this way before.”
Solomon tried to take his own life and was hospitalized, where he was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and suicidal ideation. He was discharged eight days later, towards the end of 2024.
Telepelforming offered him a lower-paying position, but he feared it would not suffice to live in Accra. He sought compensation for his distress and long-term psychological care, but instead, Telepelforming sent him back to his hometown amid unrest.
“I feel used and discarded. They treated me like a disposable water bottle,” Solomon expressed after his termination.
He reflected on his past professional life in his home country, saying, “I was content and at peace before coming here.”
Another moderator, Abel*, defended Solomon and shared how he ended his contract in solidarity with fellow employees.
He confronted Telepelforming: “You’re not treating him fairly.”
“They isolated him at home. He felt unsafe being alone, which caused him severe stress, prompting him to return to work.”
Abel also faced mental health struggles stemming from the content. “I was unaware of the nature of the job and the reality of viewing explicit material for work… The first time I encountered blood, I was left numbed.”
He mentioned that colleagues often gathered to sip coffee and discuss disturbing material, even sharing their discomfort.
He hesitated to discuss these issues with wellbeing coaches due to a fear of how his concerns would be perceived by his team leader. He faced challenges when he declined to utilize a wellness service he believed was merely for “research purposes.”
A spokesman for Telepelforming stated: Recognizing his depression following his friend’s death, we conducted a psychological evaluation and found he was unfit to continue in a moderation role.
“We offered a different non-moderating position, which he declined, expressing a desire to remain in his current role. With that not being a viable option, his employment ended, and he was provided compensation per our contractual agreement.
“Throughout his tenure and afterward, we ensured ongoing psychological support. He consistently declined assistance. At the suggestion of his family, help was arranged for him, and upon medical approval, arrangements for a flight to Ethiopia were made.
“We have maintained support for him in Ethiopia, but he has avoided it, instead attempting to pressure Telepelforming for monetary compensation under the threat of public exposure.”
*The name has been changed to protect their identity
Source: www.theguardian.com
