Facebook to pay US content reviewers more amid criticism

SAN FRANCISCO – Facebook is raising how much it pays U.S. contractors who do some of its most taxing work, including watching violent and other objectionable material for possible removal from the service.

Facebook will pay at least $18 an hour for these jobs. Those in New York City, Washington, D.C., and the San Francisco Bay Area will get $22 per hour. Facebook didn’t immediately respond to inquiries on what it was paying them before.

The content review jobs are psychologically taxing. Facebook has been criticized for not paying the workers enough and not providing enough support.

Facebook said Monday it’s adding tools for content moderators to have graphic images blurred out or shown in black and white before they see it.

The company says it’s looking into “similar standards” outside the U.S.