Navigating the Quora Moderation Policy: Why My Technical Answer About Antenna Design Was Deleted

When I wrote a purely technical answer on antenna design for a question on Quora, it was deleted. The answer included a single, non-controversial external link to a domain like google-com. This led me to explore Quora's moderation policies and understand the reasons behind the deletion.

Quora's BNRB Policy and Content Moderation

Quora has a policy against spamming, which includes unnecessary or irrelevant links in content. However, the exact rationale for the deletion of my answer is not clear. My answer was deleted, and I suspect it was due to Quora's perception that it contained a link, even though it wasn't controversial. This led me to question the reasons behind the moderation policies and how they affect content providers on the platform.

Self Plagiarism and Reader Experience

Another potential reason for the deletion could be that Quora considers my answer to be self-plagiarism. Quora encourages original and unique content, which might be seen as a risk if the content is too closely repeated from other sources. Additionally, Quora aims to keep the reader within the platform for a better user experience. Including external links might disrupt this flow, as it can take the reader out of Quora.

Identifying the Reason for Deletion

Based on the feedback, my answer was most likely collapsed rather than deleted. The Quora Moderation Bot does not always delete answers outright but rather collapses them, allowing readers to request to see the content. The exact reason could be due to the presence of an external link, despite it not being spammy content. Quora prefers that answers can be understood without the need for references to external sources.

Quora's Link Policy and Preferences

Quora has a strict policy about off-site links in answers. For them, off-site links, particularly those to competitive sites, are not preferred. However, this policy is often loosely followed in practice, especially for well-received content providers. Internal links, footnotes, or comments with links are ways to include necessary references without direct violations of the policy.

I have found that including links in footnotes or putting them in an immediately subsequent comment is effective. For example:

Original answer content Footnotes or comments: [1] Source: [google-com]

Addressing the Issue Through Appeal and Outreach

While some answers are not deleted but collapsed, others face deletion. Those who have experienced deletions recommend appealing to Quora. However, the success rate is not guaranteed. As voluntary content providers, we are essentially dispensable, as there are many contributors to the platform. One strategy is to look for advertisements and contact the advertisers, expressing dissatisfaction with the platform's behavior. This might encourage advertisers to push for better treatment of content providers and possibly influence Quora's policies.

In conclusion, navigating Quora's moderation policies requires understanding the nuances and maintaining a balance between providing valuable information and adhering to the platform's guidelines. Always ensure that your content is original, stays within the platform, and avoids unnecessary external links to maintain a positive user experience.