Anti-Racism Notification

Overview

Neighborhood posts can become a vector for profiling; the product response here is to add friction at the point of harm. Nextdoor’s anti-racism notification “pops up when it detects certain phrases,” explains how they can be harmful, then lets the author edit before publishing (help article). The company says it targets phrases “specifically discriminatory to people of color” (policy explainer). Quote: it “prompts neighbors to reconsider and edit before posting” (press release).

Why it matters

When racist or coded language spreads in neighborhood feeds, it can escalate fear, exclusion, and real-world targeting. The most expensive place to intervene is after posting (moderation, fallout, community trust loss). Intervening before publication can prevent harm and set a clear norm: discriminatory language is not “just opinion,” it’s a safety issue. Apply the pattern broadly: identify high-harm moments in creation flows, then use respectful, specific nudges that preserve user agency while reducing downstream damage.