Member Reports: Sample Use Cases and Flows

This article shares some possible use cases your app could support, as well as a sample flow that could support each use case. This can be a helpful jumping off point as you plan your app's implementation.

Notify members who are reported for spam

You may want to notify members when they are reported for spam. For example, if a member repeatedly posts promotional links in a discussion forum and is reported for spam, sending a notification ensures transparency and provides the reported member an opportunity to appeal or correct their behavior.

To notify reported members:

1. In your system, create an email template to be sent whenever a member is reported for spam.
2. Listen for the Member Report Created event. When the event is triggered:
   • Extract the reason.category field and check for the SPAM value.
   • Save the reportedMemberId field's value.
3. Call Get Member passing the saved reported member ID value to the id field. Retrieve and save the member.loginEmail field's value.
4. Send the notification to the saved email address.

Prevent abuse of the reporting system

You might want to prevent abuse of the reporting system to maintain fairness and avoid overburdening site owners. For example, a member could exploit the system by submitting false or excessive reports to target others unfairly. By implementing safeguards, you can discourage misuse and ensure the reporting system is used appropriately.

To prevent abuse of the system:

1. Listen for the Member Report Created event. When the event is triggered extract the reportingMemberId field's value.
2. Query Member Reports by the reportingMemberId field, and track the number of reports submitted by the member within a specific time frame, such as 5 reports per week.
3. If the member exceeds the reporting threshold or demonstrates unusual reporting patterns (for example, targeting the same individual repeatedly without valid reasons), issue a warning or temporarily block that member.
4. Optionally, notify the member about the restriction and explain the reason to promote understanding and discourage future misuse.