What is MaaS? Explaining Moderation as a Service

The digital revolution of the 2000s ushered in so many changes to our working and personal lives that, looking back, it’s easy to take for granted just how much has changed. We carry the internet in our pockets, access untold amounts of information at any time and connect with people halfway around the world at a moment’s notice.

Our evolution also gave rise to what we now call SaaS, or Software as a Service, which has changed the way we do everything from consume entertainment to manage our accounting to how businesses engage with their customers. Consider Salesforce, the now ubiquitous cloud-based software that many businesses use to track customer interactions and manage sales data. Salesforce radically simplified customer relationship management by eliminating the need for companies to develop, update, and maintain their own software systems.

Just as Salesforce streamlined sales and customer management, WebPurify has adapted this efficient service model to the realm of content moderation with our pioneering concept of Moderation as a Service (MaaS).

What is Moderation as a Service?

Moderation as a Service (MaaS) is a specialized adaptation of the Software as a Service (SaaS) model, tailored specifically for the digital content moderation needs of businesses. At its core, our Moderation as a Service model simplifies the integration and management of content moderation technologies, enabling businesses to efficiently scale this essential service as their online presence and needs grow.

Our service model allows companies to outsource the intricate and often resource-intensive task of monitoring and managing user-generated content. Whether it’s text, images, or videos, MaaS provides a seamless mechanism to ensure that all of your content aligns with both community standards and regulatory requirements. Through a straightforward API integration, businesses can connect their platforms to WebPurify’s moderation tools, which are continually updated to handle new challenges and content types.

With MaaS, companies don’t just get a moderation tool; they gain a dynamic, evolving service that adjusts and improves over time. This means that businesses can focus on their core operations, knowing that their moderation needs are managed by experts dedicated to maintaining a safe and inclusive online environment.

WebPurify’s MaaS makes the complex, essential task of content moderation accessible and manageable for businesses of all sizes. But what exactly does MaaS entail, and why is it increasingly seen as a vital component of digital strategy?

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The Evolution of Content Moderation

Traditionally, content moderation has required substantial internal effort from businesses. Companies had to develop their tools, train staff, and continuously update their protocols to handle the evolving nature of online content. This process was not only time-consuming but also took resources away from core business activities.

WebPurify’s approach to MaaS simplifies this process. By offering Moderation as a Service, we provide a plug-and-play solution that allows businesses to quickly and effortlessly integrate our sophisticated moderation tools. It’s designed to be just as straightforward as using any basic software service – clients simply connect their systems to WebPurify’s API, and the service handles the rest.

Accessibility for All

One of the key advantages of MaaS is its accessibility. WebPurify has designed our service to be easy to integrate, even for those without deep technical resources. Small startups or medium-sized enterprises that may not have the budget to develop custom moderation tools can now access high-quality moderation services with minimal setup.

This democratization of content moderation means that safety and compliance are no longer the exclusive preserve of large corporations with deep pockets. Whether it’s a burgeoning social media platform or a niche e-commerce site, WebPurify’s MaaS ensures that all can maintain content integrity without a hefty investment.

“The whole integration process was built to be a very light lift for developers,” says WebPurify co-founder Josh Buxbaum. “We started WebPurify not just to build a business, but to address a crucial need – keeping people safe online. From the beginning, it’s been about breaking down the barriers to effective content moderation, ensuring that companies of all sizes can protect their platforms and their users. This mission to democratize content moderation drives every decision we make and every innovation we pursue.”

While a developer is still required to integrate with WebPurify’s API, the process is straightforward enough that even those with a basic level of development experience can handle it without difficulty. Josh adds that the service was created with the intention of being accessible to a wide range of businesses, including small startups, which might not have extensive technical resources, to effectively utilize WebPurify’s moderation services.

“We’ve designed our API with simplicity in mind, making it accessible for startups and small businesses without the need for advanced technical expertise. This opens up the benefits of professional moderation to anyone who needs it, ensuring that even the smallest sites can maintain content standards without a heavy investment in technology or personnel.”

Constant Evolution

Think about how much the internet has changed since the early days of Web 2.0. Digital platforms, technology and the ways in which we interact are constantly – and rapidly – changing. As such, the tools and strategies for content moderation need regular updates and refinements to remain effective.

WebPurify understands that the dynamism of online content requires a similarly dynamic approach to moderation. “Our tools are constantly evolving, not just in response to technological advancements but also to new challenges that emerge almost daily,” Josh says.

Many larger businesses may have developed their own in-house moderation tools, but these are often not updated with the necessary frequency. “Content moderation isn’t their primary business,” Josh points out. “Once these tools are developed, they often remain static, not adapting to new types of content or evolving online threats.”

This stagnation can lead to vulnerabilities, where outdated tools fail to effectively detect or manage newer forms of inappropriate content.

In contrast, WebPurify’s MaaS is constantly evolving. Our team is dedicated to staying ahead of the curve, ensuring that our moderation tools incorporate the latest best practices and respond proactively to emerging threats. “We’re always updating our system based on real-world feedback and new developments in the field,” Josh says. This commitment means that WebPurify’s clients, regardless of their size or sector, benefit from a moderation tool that is always at the cutting edge.

This ongoing evolution is part of WebPurify’s broader mission to make the internet a safer place for all. “By ensuring our tool adapts quickly, we provide our clients with the best possible defense against online risks, making their platforms safer for users,” Josh adds. This adaptability is crucial not only for handling current moderation challenges but also for anticipating future issues, ensuring that WebPurify’s clients are always prepared for whatever new trends may arise in online content.

Why MaaS Matters

For companies not inherently in the moderation business, developing and maintaining up-to-date moderation tools can be a distraction from their core objectives. MaaS offers a way to offload this critical but non-core activity to specialists like us whose sole focus is to ensure content integrity.

The result is not only improved efficiency but also enhanced safety for users and protection for the brand. With MaaS, companies can trust that their content moderation needs are met with the latest technology, backed by a team of experts dedicated to this very task.