Social media moderators are like the paramedics of the internet – and they're right in the firing line of trolls

Have you ever read the comments section on a news story on Facebook, a post on a politician's Facebook page or on your favourite sports team's page? 

Nod along if you've seen a racist remark. Continue nodding if you've seen a homophobic slur, misogynistic abuse or in-comment fighting.

You might have rolled your eyes or even clicked away in disgust. 

But if it's part of your job to monitor for comments like these, you can't step away, even if they're targeting you personally or a community you're involved in.

Add in abusive messages from banned users and anxiety about the ever-present risk of defamation from comments on your posts, and you begin to gain some insight into the world of moderating social media communities.

It's a role that has become more common but which remains little understood, and rife with risk.