Moderation Overview - HL Vanilla Community
<main> <article class="userContent"> <p><strong>Higher Logic Vanilla</strong> (<strong>Vanilla</strong>) gives Admins the ability to <strong>moderate</strong> the content that displays in their community. <strong>Moderation</strong> is the ability to preview and then approve or reject user-generated content.</p><p>This is a crucial content-management feature for online communities because it gives Admins and their trusted agents control over what user-generated content <strong>does</strong> and <strong>doesn't</strong> appear in the community, so that they can minimize the occurrences of questionable and offensive content.</p><h2 data-id="appoint-moderators">Appoint Moderators</h2><p>Admins can assign the <strong>Moderator</strong> role to trusted users who then can also review, edit, and approve/deny content. <strong>Moderator</strong> is an out-of-the-box Role with the necessary permission (among others) already applied.</p><ul><li>Navigate to <strong>Dashboard > Settings > Membership > Roles & Permissions</strong>.</li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/XHK1EEP3432S/moderation-manage-permssn.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/XHK1EEP3432S/moderation-manage-permssn.png" alt="Moderation-Manage permssn.png" height="308" width="792" loading="lazy" data-display-size="large" data-float="none" srcset="https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,width=10/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/XHK1EEP3432S/moderation-manage-permssn.png 10w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,width=300/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/XHK1EEP3432S/moderation-manage-permssn.png 300w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,width=800/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/XHK1EEP3432S/moderation-manage-permssn.png 800w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,width=1200/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/XHK1EEP3432S/moderation-manage-permssn.png 1200w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,width=1600/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/XHK1EEP3432S/moderation-manage-permssn.png 1600w, https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/XHK1EEP3432S/moderation-manage-permssn.png"></img></a> </div> </div> <p>To appoint the Moderator Role to a user:</p><ol><li>Navigate to <strong>Dashboard > Moderation > Users</strong>.</li><li>On the Manage Users page, click the <strong>pencil</strong> icon for the user you want to appoint.</li><li>On the Edit User modal, scroll down to <strong>Check all roles that apply to this user:</strong> and check the box for <strong>Moderator</strong>.</li><li>Click <strong>Save</strong>.</li><li>Repeat these steps to add more Moderators.</li></ol><p><strong>✔️ TIP</strong>: Return to the Manage Roles & Permissions page and verify the count in the <strong>USERS</strong> column for the Moderator Role. (Learn how to manage your <a href="https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/39" rel="nofollow noreferrer ugc">Roles & Permissions</a>.)</p><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/T0U283H5L7L1/moderator-role-users-count.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/T0U283H5L7L1/moderator-role-users-count.png" alt="Moderator role-users count.png" height="288" width="905" loading="lazy" data-display-size="large" data-float="none" srcset="https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,width=10/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/T0U283H5L7L1/moderator-role-users-count.png 10w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,width=300/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/T0U283H5L7L1/moderator-role-users-count.png 300w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,width=800/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/T0U283H5L7L1/moderator-role-users-count.png 800w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,width=1200/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/T0U283H5L7L1/moderator-role-users-count.png 1200w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,width=1600/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/T0U283H5L7L1/moderator-role-users-count.png 1600w, https://us.v-cdn.net/6030677/uploads/T0U283H5L7L1/moderator-role-users-count.png"></img></a> </div> </div> <p>Your Moderators can review, edit, and approve/reject user-generated content in your Vanilla community.</p><h2 data-id="moderation-options">Moderation options</h2><p>There are a number of ways that Admins and Moderators can moderate user-generated community content. This section highlights some of these options.</p><h3 data-id="inline-moderation">Inline moderation</h3><p>This is located in individual discussions and comments, typically via an <strong>ellipsis</strong> (<strong>...</strong>) menu.</p><p>There is a set of options that Admins and Moderators can use to moderate the content of individual discussions and comments.</p><p>📝 <strong>NOTE</strong>: Admins and Moderators can also <em>multi-select</em> discussions and then manage them in "bulk."</p><ul><li>To learn more, see the <em>Inline Moderation</em> section in:</li></ul><div class="js-embed embedResponsive" data-embedjson="{"body":"You can moderate the content that displays in your Higher Logic Vanilla (Vanilla) community. This means that you can control what user-generated content does and doesn't appear in the community. Vanilla also simplifies this by providing some \"automated\" options (described below). Additionally, as an Admin, you can assign…","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6030677\/uploads\/VWGAXAF5OFCO\/microsoftteams-image.png","url":"https:\/\/success.vanillaforums.com\/kb\/articles\/342","embedType":"link","name":"Moderation - Vanilla Success"}"> <a href="https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/342" rel="nofollow noreferrer ugc"> https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/342 </a> </div><h3 data-id="site-management">Site management</h3><p>This is located in <strong>Dashboard > Moderation > Site</strong>.</p><p>Each community user is listed on the Manage Users page and has an edit option (a <strong>pencil</strong> icon). Admins can edit the user listing and <strong>ban</strong> the user if their behavior has warranted such a measure. <strong>Ban Rules</strong> can be used on a larger scale.</p><h3 data-id="content-management">Content management</h3><p>This is located in <strong>Dashboard > Moderation > Content</strong>.</p><p>There is a set of tools (such as <em>Moderation Queue</em> and <em>Spam Queue</em>) that Admins and Moderators can use in order to focus moderation efforts directly on items that impact the site's content.</p><p>These queues get populated by trusted members "flagging" content, making it easier for Admins and Moderators moderators to take care of issues before they become problems. Allowing the community to self-moderate reduces the workload on Admins and Moderators, and involves the community in deciding what content is and is not acceptable.</p><h3 data-id="addons">Addons</h3><p>These are located in <strong>Dashboard > Settings > Addons > Addons</strong>.</p><p>There are a number of addons (such as <em>Troll Management</em>, <em>Warnings & Notes</em>, <em>Stop Forum Spam</em>, and <em>Civil Tongue</em>) that are specifically designed to enhance your moderation efforts.</p><p>Admins can use the <a href="https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/229" rel="nofollow noreferrer ugc">Pre-Moderated Category</a> addon (in <strong>Addons > Pre-Moderated Category</strong>) to set Categories as being pre-moderated so that all new discussions and/or comments in the selected Categories are automatically sent to the Moderation Queue.</p><h2 data-id="community-moderation-tools">Community Moderation tools</h2><h3 data-id="managing-spam-abuse">Managing spam & abuse</h3><p>Vanilla is equipped with several layers of spam prevention. Learn more in:</p><div class="js-embed embedResponsive" data-embedjson="{"body":"Spam Prevention Vanilla is equipped with several layers of SPAM prevention. While automated tools do most of the work, we encourage you to be vigilant and to enlist your membership to report any suspected spam. Spam Detection Vanilla includes 2 spam detection plugins: StopForumSpam and Akismet. These can be turned on or…","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6030677\/uploads\/VWGAXAF5OFCO\/microsoftteams-image.png","url":"https:\/\/success.vanillaforums.com\/kb\/articles\/29-spam-prevention-and-detection","embedType":"link","name":"Spam Prevention and Detection - Vanilla Success"}"> <a href="https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/29-spam-prevention-and-detection" rel="nofollow noreferrer ugc"> https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/29-spam-prevention-and-detection </a> </div><h3 data-id="curating-with-reactions">Curating with Reactions</h3><p>Reactions are a one-click response to discussions and comments. Learn how to curate content with Reactions in:</p><div class="js-embed embedResponsive" data-embedjson="{"body":"What are reactions? Reactions are a 1-click response to discussions and comments. Using Reactions enables community members to indicate an emotional (“Awesome”, “LOL”) or empirical (“Agree”, “Vote Down”) response without typing a comment. This introduces feedback that is otherwise missing from a community when members…","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6030677\/uploads\/VWGAXAF5OFCO\/microsoftteams-image.png","url":"https:\/\/success.vanillaforums.com\/kb\/articles\/22-reacting-to-content#curating-with-reactions","embedType":"link","name":"Reactions - Vanilla Success"}"> <a href="https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/22-reacting-to-content#curating-with-reactions" rel="nofollow noreferrer ugc"> https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/22-reacting-to-content#curating-with-reactions </a> </div><h3 data-id="troll-management">Troll Management</h3><p>Trolls spend their time trying to "stir up trouble" in a community, which can be disruptive. Learn how to use the Troll Management plugin to manage these users in:</p><div class="js-embed embedResponsive" data-embedjson="{"body":"In an online community, \"trolls\" are people who intentionally start fights with other users by provoking them with off-topic, incendiary, or divisive content. Their goal is to purposely upset users and derail the conversation. As you can imagine, you don't want Trolls infesting your Higher Logic Vanilla…","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6030677\/uploads\/VWGAXAF5OFCO\/microsoftteams-image.png","url":"https:\/\/success.vanillaforums.com\/kb\/articles\/95-troll-management","embedType":"link","name":"Troll Management - Vanilla Success"}"> <a href="https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/95-troll-management" rel="nofollow noreferrer ugc"> https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/95-troll-management </a> </div><h3 data-id="warnings-notes-addon">Warnings & Notes addon</h3><p>Warnings are an Admin tool to let users know that their behavior is not appropriate. Notes are a moderator-only feature to track and share information between moderators. Learn about these features in: <a href="https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/180" rel="nofollow noreferrer ugc">https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/180</a>.</p><h2 data-id="ban-users">Ban users</h2><ul><li>You can manually ban individual users from their <strong>profiles </strong>or the <strong>Dashboard</strong>. See <a href="https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/1428" rel="nofollow noreferrer ugc">Ban Users</a> to learn more</li><li>You can ban "automate" the process of banning individual/groups of users by setting up <strong>Ban Rules</strong>. To learn how to <em>add and manage your Ban Rules</em>, see <a href="https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/574" rel="nofollow noreferrer ugc">Ban Rules</a>.</li></ul><h2 data-id="additional-resources">Additional resources</h2><p>Click the link below to access a video expanding on what you learned in this article.</p><div class="js-embed embedResponsive" data-embedjson="{"body":"For more information, please see:","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6030677\/uploads\/GXW21TRYG1JP\/share-imagevanilla-community.jpg","url":"https:\/\/success.vanillaforums.com\/kb\/articles\/464","embedType":"link","name":"Moderation Overview [video] - HL Vanilla Community"}"> <a href="https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/464" rel="nofollow noreferrer ugc"> https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/464 </a> </div><p><br></p> </article> </main>