Navigating the Gray Interventions: The Impact of Soft Moderation Techniques Across Social Media Platforms

The proliferation of misinformation on social media platforms (SMPs) poses significant threats to public discourse, public health, and democracy, which requires effective moderation strategies. This work investigates the usability of soft moderation techniques, such as warning labels and contextual links, designed to mitigate the spread of misinformation while maintaining user autonomy. Using a mixed methods approach, it analyzes quantitative engagement metrics and qualitative user perceptions across platforms including Instagram, X (formally known as Twitter), TikTok, and Threads.