AI Moderation

Learn how to use AI-powered message moderation in your React Native app using the CometChat SDK, including real-time moderation events and handling disapproved messages.

Quick Reference

// Send a message and check moderation status
CometChat.sendMessage(textMessage).then((message) => {
  const status = message.getModerationStatus();
  // CometChat.ModerationStatus.PENDING | APPROVED | DISAPPROVED
});

// Listen for moderation results
CometChat.addMessageListener("listenerId", new CometChat.MessageListener({
  onMessageModerated: (message) => {
    const status = message.getModerationStatus();
  }
}));

Overview

AI Moderation in the CometChat SDK helps ensure that your chat application remains safe and compliant by automatically reviewing messages for inappropriate content. This feature leverages AI to moderate messages in real-time, reducing manual intervention and improving user experience.

For a broader understanding of moderation features, configuring rules, and managing flagged messages, see the Moderation Overview.

Prerequisites

Before using AI Moderation, ensure the following:

1. Moderation is enabled for your app in the CometChat Dashboard
2. Moderation rules are configured under Moderation > Rules
3. You’re using a CometChat SDK version that supports moderation

How It Works

Step	Description
1. Send Message	App sends a text, image, or video message
2. Pending Status	Message is sent with PENDING moderation status
3. AI Processing	Moderation service analyzes the content
4. Result Event	onMessageModerated event fires with final status

Supported Message Types

Moderation is triggered only for the following message types:

Message Type	Moderated	Notes
Text Messages	✅	Content analyzed for inappropriate text
Image Messages	✅	Images scanned for unsafe content
Video Messages	✅	Videos analyzed for prohibited content
Custom Messages	❌	Not subject to AI moderation
Action Messages	❌	Not subject to AI moderation

Moderation Status

The getModerationStatus() method returns one of the following values:

Status	Enum Value	Description
Pending	CometChat.ModerationStatus.PENDING	Message is being processed by moderation
Approved	CometChat.ModerationStatus.APPROVED	Message passed moderation and is visible
Disapproved	CometChat.ModerationStatus.DISAPPROVED	Message violated rules and was blocked

Implementation

Step 1: Send a Message and Check Initial Status

When you send a text, image, or video message, check the initial moderation status:

JavaScript

const textMessage = new CometChat.TextMessage(
  receiverUID,
  "Hello, how are you?",
  CometChat.RECEIVER_TYPE.USER
);

CometChat.sendMessage(textMessage).then(
  (message) => {
    // Check moderation status
    const status = message.getModerationStatus();
    
    if (status === CometChat.ModerationStatus.PENDING) {
      console.log("Message is under moderation review");
      // Show pending indicator in UI
    }
  },
  (error) => {
    console.log("Message sending failed:", error);
  }
);

TypeScript

const textMessage = new CometChat.TextMessage(
  receiverUID,
  "Hello, how are you?",
  CometChat.RECEIVER_TYPE.USER
);

CometChat.sendMessage(textMessage).then(
  (message: CometChat.TextMessage) => {
    // Check moderation status
    const status: string = message.getModerationStatus();
    
    if (status === CometChat.ModerationStatus.PENDING) {
      console.log("Message is under moderation review");
      // Show pending indicator in UI
    }
  },
  (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => {
    console.log("Message sending failed:", error);
  }
);

Step 2: Listen for Moderation Results

Register a message listener to receive moderation results in real-time:

JavaScript

const listenerID = "MODERATION_LISTENER";

CometChat.addMessageListener(
  listenerID,
  new CometChat.MessageListener({
    onMessageModerated: (message) => {
      if (
        message instanceof CometChat.TextMessage ||
        message instanceof CometChat.MediaMessage
      ) {
        const status = message.getModerationStatus();
        const messageId = message.getId();

        switch (status) {
          case CometChat.ModerationStatus.APPROVED:
            console.log(`Message ${messageId} approved`);
            // Update UI to show message normally
            break;

          case CometChat.ModerationStatus.DISAPPROVED:
            console.log(`Message ${messageId} blocked`);
            // Handle blocked message (hide or show warning)
            handleDisapprovedMessage(message);
            break;
        }
      }
    }
  })
);

// Don't forget to remove the listener when done
// CometChat.removeMessageListener(listenerID);

TypeScript

const listenerID: string = "MODERATION_LISTENER";

CometChat.addMessageListener(
  listenerID,
  new CometChat.MessageListener({
    onMessageModerated: (message: CometChat.BaseMessage) => {
      if (
        message instanceof CometChat.TextMessage ||
        message instanceof CometChat.MediaMessage
      ) {
        const status: string = message.getModerationStatus();
        const messageId: number = message.getId();

        switch (status) {
          case CometChat.ModerationStatus.APPROVED:
            console.log(`Message ${messageId} approved`);
            // Update UI to show message normally
            break;

          case CometChat.ModerationStatus.DISAPPROVED:
            console.log(`Message ${messageId} blocked`);
            // Handle blocked message (hide or show warning)
            handleDisapprovedMessage(message);
            break;
        }
      }
    }
  })
);

// Don't forget to remove the listener when done
// CometChat.removeMessageListener(listenerID);

Always remove message listeners when the component unmounts to prevent memory leaks.

CometChat.removeMessageListener("MODERATION_LISTENER");

Step 3: Handle Disapproved Messages

When a message is disapproved, handle it appropriately in your UI:

function handleDisapprovedMessage(message) {
  const messageId = message.getId();
  
  // Option 1: Hide the message completely
  hideMessageFromUI(messageId);
  
  // Option 2: Show a placeholder message
  showBlockedPlaceholder(messageId, "This message was blocked by moderation");
  
  // Option 3: Notify the sender (if it's their message)
  if (message.getSender().getUid() === currentUserUID) {
    showNotification("Your message was blocked due to policy violation");
  }
}

Best Practices

• Always check getModerationStatus() after sending a message to show appropriate UI indicators (e.g., a pending badge)
• Register the onMessageModerated listener early in your app lifecycle so you don’t miss moderation results
• Provide clear feedback to users when their message is disapproved — avoid silently hiding content without explanation
• Custom and Action messages are not moderated — if you need moderation on custom message types, implement your own server-side checks
• Consider caching moderation status locally to avoid re-checking on message list re-renders

Troubleshooting

• Moderation status always PENDING: Ensure moderation rules are configured in the CometChat Dashboard under Moderation > Rules.
• onMessageModerated not firing: Verify you registered a MessageListener with the correct listener ID and that moderation is enabled for your app.
• Custom messages not being moderated: This is expected — AI Moderation only applies to text, image, and video messages.
• Disapproved messages still visible: Make sure your onMessageModerated handler updates the UI when a message status changes to DISAPPROVED.

Next Steps

Flag Message

Allow users to report inappropriate messages

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