How Do You Prevent Spam Without Frustrating Real Users?

[Maya]

Spam protection is necessary, but overly strict filters can block genuine users. Should communities rely more on manual moderation, automation, or reputation systems? What has worked best in your experience to keep spam low while maintaining user trust?

 

[Shawn Gossman]

I do it in registration and so far, I have stopped all spam.

This is my process:

1. I require registration approval by admin
2. I have a required question asking why they want to join
3. I use Stop Forum Spam
4. I use a security question
5. I research the username, email, and IP before I allow them in

Like I said, this works great!

 

[Nomad]

Manual approval can be frustrating, asking questions to the users during the sign up is also frustrating. I think best approach is to have active staff who frequently screens new users

 

[Page]

IPB does it all for me LOL

 

[zappaDPJ]

I generally just have a single Q&A which works 100% until it doesn't at which point I set a new Q&A. I've found the key is to set a question which is not generic (What colour is the sky?) with a question specific to the niche (FTTC stands for fibre to the ______).

I suspect the increasing use of AI will render this method useless eventually but it's worked for the last 20 years or more.

 

[cpvr]

Spam protection is necessary, but overly strict filters can block genuine users. Should communities rely more on manual moderation, automation, or reputation systems? What has worked best in your experience to keep spam low while maintaining user trust?

I manual approve all new members, utilize Cloudflare's turnstile, use stopForumSpam and I also block certain countries off from accessing my forum. Especially through their ASN'S.