The Cleaners is a documentary film that explores the hidden world of content moderation on social media platforms. The film follows a group of content moderators in the Philippines who are responsible for reviewing and removing disturbing and graphic content from sites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
These moderators are tasked with enforcing the community guidelines set by the tech companies, but the job takes a toll on their mental health as they are constantly exposed to violent and disturbing images. The film raises important questions about the impact of this work on the moderators and the ethical implications of outsourcing content moderation to countries with lower labor costs.
The Cleaners sheds light on the complex and often overlooked world of online content moderation, revealing the human cost of keeping the internet "clean" and the challenges faced by those who are tasked with this difficult job.