In-app reporting is the feature that lets users flag content or accounts to the platform without leaving the app, usually through a menu attached to each post, profile, or message.

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‍Why it matters

Users see things moderators don't, so reports are one of the most useful signals a platform has. The design of the reporting flow decides how useful they are. If it takes too many steps, fewer people report. If the categories don't match the platform's actual policies, reports arrive mislabeled and reviewers waste time re-sorting them.

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‍What makes a reporting flow work

‍Good flows offer categories that match the policy, an optional box for details, and a quick way to also block or mute the person. Behind the scenes, reports get sorted by severity, grouped when many users report the same item, and prioritized by how many people could see the content. Telling the reporter what happened, even briefly, keeps people reporting. Teams also watch for abuse, such as the same group reporting a target repeatedly.