How Do I Moderate Website Comments on My SoCast Site?

Use these steps to moderate comments on your blog posts and pages across your website.

Step-by-Step Guide

Navigate to Comments: Go to Website > Comments in your SoCast dashboard.
Adjust Discussion Settings:
- Moderate Comments:
  - Yes: Select “Yes” to require approval before comments appear on your website.
  - No: Select “No” to allow all comments to display automatically without approval.
- Comment Blacklist: When a comment contains any of these words in its content, name, URL, email, or IP, it will be marked as spam. Enter one word or IP per line. It will match inside words, so “press” will match “WordPress.” For more information, see our article: How Do I Create a Comments Blacklist?
- Click the Save button to apply your settings.
Review Comment Sections: The Comments area is divided into five tabs:
- All: Shows all comments.
- Pending: Comments awaiting approval.
- Approved: Comments you have approved to be posted on your site.
- Spam: Comments marked as spam, often irrelevant or containing advertising, inappropriate language, or links.
- Trash: Comments you have deleted or do not want shown on your site.
  - Empty Trash: To permanently delete all trashed comments, click the Empty Trash button.
Moderate Individual Comments: Click the desired tab, then hover your mouse over the comment you want to manage. Choose from the following options:
- Approve: Approve the comment to display it on your site. It will also appear under the “Approved” tab.
- Unapprove: Remove the comment from public view.
- Reply: Respond directly to the comment.
- Quick Edit: Edit the comment without leaving the page.
- Edit: Open a detailed editing screen for the comment.
- Spam: Mark the comment as spam and move it to the “Spam” tab.
- Trash: Delete the comment and move it to the “Trash” tab.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage and moderate comments on your SoCast website, ensuring a positive and engaging experience for your audience.