Gender Differences in Demanding Moderation

Using data from five experiments, we show that there is a persistent gender gap incontent moderation preferences and indicated reporting behavior, with women beingmore likely to demand moderation. However, we find that the target matters considerablyfor such gender gaps in demanding moderation, ranging from a gap of 12%(target: LGBTQ people) to 1% (target: Billionaires). Drawing on literature on representationand gender schemas, we test the role of emotions, political identity, andfreedom of speech values to explain these gender gaps. We find that emotions explainmost of the gender gaps in demanding moderation, but other mechanisms alsoexplain a considerable part of the variation. These findings underscore the nuancedways in which gender and target group interact to shape content moderation preferencesand suggest that experiences of marginalization influence how individualsapproach moderation, particularly when encountering toxicity directed at protectedgroups. Providing further support for this explanation, we also find that groupswho are frequently marginalized – because of their identity – are similarly inclinedto perceive posts attacking vulnerable groups as harmful and express a stronger desirefor more stringent moderation measures than majority groups. These findingscontribute to the importance of considering diverse experiences and values whenmanaging content moderation and regulating platforms as well as to research ondescriptive representation.