If you think you could’ve deflected Twitter’s blue check impersonation debacle, then boy do we have the game for you! Techdirt has released the very fun and not at all stressful game Trust & Safety Tycoon, in which you get to simulate running a trust & safety team at a Twitter-like social media startup called Yapper. Created alongside the Atlantic Council’s Task Force for a Trustworthy Future Web, Trust & Safety Tycoon forces the player to confront the challenging trade-offs of keeping an online platform safe.
The Challenges of Moderation
In this game, you have to maintain solid user growth, ad revenue, moderation speed, and team morale. And even if you can accomplish that, your CEO might lose confidence in you and give you the axe when you make a wrong choice regarding the fate of a provocateur named ‘BatDung’ (yes, this happened to me). Then, you’ll field requests from local law enforcement who want you to let a suspected murderer continue livestreaming on Yapper so that the police can figure out where he’s located. And if you can get through that mess, then you’ll have to figure out how to abide by changing international laws without turning over activists’ user data to authoritarian governments.
The Game Mechanics
The game is difficult: in my first attempt, I was fired before we reached a Series B because my cautious moderation decisions deflated our user growth and ad revenue. Still, it’s entertaining (though perhaps not as entertaining as Rollercoaster Tycoon) and gives you a renewed understanding of how difficult it is to run a social media platform.
Some moderation scenarios are funny — you’re tasked with determining if replying ‘OK Boomer’ to older users is harassment, or if Bronies are a threat to the safety of minors. Many scenarios feel urgent, reflecting the real legislation that is passing through Congress as we speak. Can individual states ban TikTok? Can you protect children from seeing porn without requiring all internet users to verify their age and identity?
The Real-World Implications
The game is not just a simulation; it’s also a commentary on the real-world challenges of content moderation. We’ll see how this plays out in the real world. Will individual states be able to ban TikTok? Can social media platforms protect children from seeing porn without requiring all internet users to verify their age and identity?
The Endgame
By the time you finish the game, you’re given the option to keep working at Yapper, start your own company, consult for the government or go into an early retirement. If you don’t choose the option of buying a mountain chalet and adopting a puppy, you’re stronger than I am.
Conclusion
Trust & Safety Tycoon is a game that will make you feel the stress of running a social media platform. It’s not just a simulation; it’s also a commentary on the real-world challenges of content moderation. If you want to understand the complexities of keeping an online platform safe, then this game is for you.
Additional Information
- Game Developers: Techdirt and the Atlantic Council’s Task Force for a Trustworthy Future Web
- Release Date: Not specified
- Platforms: PC (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Genre: Simulation, Strategy
- Rating: Not rated
