From Content Moderator to Water Vendor: A Kenyan’s Fight Against Meta’s Actions
Nathan Nkunzimana’s life in Nairobi took an unexpected turn after losing his job as a content moderator for Meta. For two years, Nkunzimana worked at Sama, Meta’s former moderation partner in Africa, reviewing posts on Instagram and Facebook to enforce the platforms’ content guidelines. Now, eight months later, he runs a small water-selling business in the Lavington suburb, a significant change from his previous office job. This transition highlights the impact of Meta’s decisions on Kenyan workers and the challenges they face.
The Fallout from Sama’s Contract Termination
In April 2023, Sama terminated its content moderation services for Meta, impacting 249 moderators, including Nkunzimana. This meant an end to his role of deleting content that violated platform rules. The 34-year-old, who worked long hours in an air-conditioned office, was suddenly unemployed. Nkunzimana expressed frustration with the abrupt layoff, stating that the company had promised much but delivered little in the end. His current daily routine involves running his water business from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, including doorstep deliveries for orders exceeding 1,000 Kenyan shillings (approximately $6.52). This change reflects the broader impact of outsourcing content moderation to African nations and the potential instability faced by these workers when contracts are terminated.
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Nkunzimana’s experience is a microcosm of the struggle many Kenyan content moderators are facing. The sudden job loss illustrates the instability associated with these roles and the need for greater protection and support for workers in the burgeoning African tech industry.
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Related Keywords: Kenyan content moderators, Meta content moderation, Kenyan labor rights, Facebook content moderation, Meta Kenya, content moderation lawsuit, Kenyan workers, social media content, Meta employment practices, Andrew Bagel
