UPDATE - Facebook FINE to pay $52 million For Content Moderators Who Developed PTSD

Facebook has agreed to pay a $52 million settlement to thousands of moderators who developed mental

health conditions while helping the network app keep off disturbing content off its platform.

In a preliminary settlement filed on Friday in San Mateo Superior Court, Facebook agreed to compensate 11,250 current and former US-based moderators, with each receiving a minimum of $1,000, as reported by The Daily Mail.

Some moderators diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or any similar condition will be eligible to receive additional compensation, which will range from $1,500 to $6,000, to help cover the cost of any treatment.

Moderators with qualifying diagnoses who are able to show evidence of injuries they suffered while reviewing posts depicting acts of suicide, murder, child abuse, and other types of disturbing content while at Facebook could claim up to $50,000.

As part of the agreement, the social network also agreed to provide more mental health support and counselling to moderators still under their employ, whether members of staff or third-party contractors.

Moderators who are tasked with viewing graphic content on a daily basis will be given weekly access to one-on-one counselling sessions with a licensed mental health professional.

Those experiencing a mental health crisis will be given access to a licensed counsellor within 24 hours.

Facebook says it will also make monthly group sessions available to all of its moderators.

Other measures the social media company will implement include screening applicants for moderator positions for emotional resiliency as part of the hiring and recruiting process; posting information about psychological support at each worker’s station, and informing moderators about how to report violations of Facebook’s workplace standards by the vendor they’re working for.

The settlement covers moderators working in California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida between 2015 and now.