The discussion revolves around preventing spam from new users (Trust Level 0) who post links, especially with the rise of AI-generated content. Isambard seeks a way to automatically moderate posts by TL0 users that contain links. Heliosurge suggests adjusting the Trust Level 1 setting to block link posts from TL0 users, which effectively acts as a sledgehammer solution Heliosurge. Moin proposes using the ‘newuser max links’ setting to block links, but notes this affects all posts. Isambard clarifies the goal: allowing TL0 users to post links but requiring moderation. Heliosurge confirms the setting change blocks link posts entirely. Moin explains that while individual moderation rules exist (e.g., watched words), combining them for specific user groups isn’t possible. Heliosurge recommends a feature request for this functionality. Simon_Manning agrees, noting no bypass option for trusted groups. SailReal supports the idea, highlighting the difficulty of detecting such spam manually. JammyDodger references a related topic on sneaky spam tactics.
OK. So now we are seeing an increase in spam posts esp. using AI to generate plausible looking posts.
Is there a way to require a review of posts which:
Currently the first x posts are reviewed, but esp. with AI, spammers post x amount of innocuous posts before posting the spam links.
It’s a sledgehammer approach, but worth considering!
Maybe. But that will do exactly what you want. Any tl0 new members who post a link will goto moderation. I believe.
Easy to test change setting and use a test user with tl0 to post a link.
Plus if you’re using Discobot onboarding. Just completing the tutorial will bump their user level.
Ah. From the description it sounds like if you are TL0, you cannot make a post if it contains a link.
Okay just tested. Sledgehammer it is.
It will not let a Topic or post creation if contains a link tl0.
You could change the ‘newuser max links’ site setting to 0 to prohibit new users from posting links. However, that would also affect posting in general
Yes, there seems to be 2 ways to prevent new users from posting links.
I’m wondering if there is a way to allow new users to post links, but have those posts go into moderation before being visible.
Just tested that, after finding. It is the same as changing allowed group form tl0 to tl1.
New topic & posts are blocked if Max New User Links set from 2 to 0
I think it works both individually but not in combination. You could require approval for all users except those in ‘approved groups’, and you could require approval for all posts containing links using watched words. But both would cause more posts to need approval.
I would suggest maybe at present to make a feature request. As this is a very reasonable idea.
This was my initial thought, hoping to be able to specify groups that can bypass it and setting that to the trust_level_1 group. Sadly there is no such bypass option.
I think this style of slipping an extra link in at the end of another was recently raised in this topic as well - Spam alert: sneaky spammers
