Seal Checker

Seal Checker enforces source requirements automatically. Flaired posts missing a URL get a deadline, mods get notified of unverified domains, and the post gets actioned if OP doesn't follow through.

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Inspiration

Moderation in news and research communities is largely reactive. Mods spend significant time chasing down posters who post unsourced claims, sending manual warnings, and following up to take action. I wanted to automate that entire loop so mods only get involved when it actually matters.

What it does

Seal Checker automatically enforces source requirements on posts with certain flairs. When a flagged post is submitted without a URL, the bot comments and gives OP a configurable time limit to provide one. If OP replies with a source, the bot updates its comment with a verified/unverified domain breakdown and notifies mods of anything suspicious. If OP doesn't respond in time, the post is automatically locked, deleted, or reported based on mod configuration.

How we built it

Built on the Devvit Web platform using PostSubmit and CommentSubmit triggers, a scheduled job for timer expiry, and Redis to track state across the post lifecycle. Domain verification runs against a prebuilt list of trusted news outlets and research journals that mods can extend or overwrite entirely through app settings.

Challenges we ran into

Working out edge cases across the post lifecycle, getting up to speed with the Devvit platform and its constraints, and correctly maintaining Redis state across concurrent triggers and scheduled jobs so that it doesn't exceed its memory limit.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

The entire moderation loop runs without a single mod action in the common case. From flagging to resolution, Seal Checker handles it automatically and only surfaces work to mods when a domain is unverified or a post goes unresolved.

What we learned

AutoMod handles static rules at submit time but has no concept of state or time. Devvit's scheduler and Redis fill that gap and open up a class of moderation automation that simply wasn't possible before.

What's next for Seal Checker

An article ai analyzer that fetches and parses linked sources to verify that the post title and claims actually align with the article content, catching clickbait and misrepresentation automatically before mods ever have to look at it.

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