A blurred screen flashes before our eyes, accompanied by a deceptively innocuous “sensitive content” message with a crossed-out eye emoji. The warning’s soft design and playful icon belie the gravity of what lies beneath. With a casual flick of our fingers, we scroll past, our feeds refreshing with cat videos and vacation photos. But in the shadows of our digital utopia, a different reality unfolds.
In cramped, poorly lit warehouses around the world, an army of invisible workers hunches over flickering screens. Their eyes strain, fingers hovering over keyboards, as they confront humanity’s darkest impulses — some darker than their wildest nightmares. They cannot look away. They cannot scroll past. For these workers, there is no trigger warning.
Tech giants trumpet the power of AI in content moderation, painting pictures of omniscient algorithms keeping our digital spaces safe. They suggest a utopian vision of machines tirelessly sifting through digital detritus, protecting us from the worst of the web.
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