Nextdoor launches Anti-Racism Notification to prevent discriminatory language

The notification detects potentially racist content and prompts neighbors to reconsider and edit before posting. 

SAN FRANCISCO, Ca., April 19, 2021 – Today, Nextdoor announced the anti-racism notification to prevent language that could be offensive or hurtful to people of all backgrounds. The new anti-racism notification detects certain phrases such as “All Lives Matter” or “Blue Lives Matter,” and prompts the author to consider editing their post or comment before it goes live. 

As part of Nextdoor’s work to foster healthy and productive conversations, the anti-racism notification does not prevent a neighbor from publishing, but aims to make people aware of language that may violate our policy against discrimination and the harm that can be caused by the use of these phrases. Specifically, All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter content is explicitly prohibited on Nextdoor when used to undermine racial equality or the Black Lives Matter movement. Support for White Lives Matter is prohibited on Nextdoor, as it is most commonly associated with white supremacist groups.

This product release is part of Nextdoor’s ongoing anti-racism work to build a platform where everyone belongs. Since 2015, Nextdoor  has partnered with racial justice experts to ensure that Nextdoor is a welcoming environment for all neighbors. In 2019, Nextdoor announced the kindness reminder, a first of its kind feature, that detects offensive language and encourages neighbors to edit before posting. That prompt has resulted in a 30% reduction in incivil content. Today, Nextdoor is taking this one step further with the launch of the anti-racism notification that detects language that could be specifically discriminatory to people of color. 

“Our neighborhoods are diverse and include people of differing backgrounds and viewpoints—we champion that,” shared Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar. “This is why, at Nextdoor, we believe neighborhoods can be a catalyst for positive change. We also know that these changes can only emerge—and Nextdoor can only succeed—when neighbors come together in spaces that are truly free of racism and discrimination.”

Conversations on racial justice can be difficult, and they have a profound impact on our neighborhoods. Nextdoor exists to foster these important conversations in a civil, respectful way. To that end, the company has provided tips to talk about race along with a comprehensive anti-racism resource hub to learn more and take action.

The anti-racism notification will be rolling out this week on web, iOS, and Android. For more information, please see the Nextdoor blog and demo video.

About Nextdoor, Inc.

Nextdoor is the app where you plug into the neighborhoods that matter to you. Our purpose is to cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighborhood they can rely on. Neighbors turn to Nextdoor daily to receive trusted information, give and get help, and build real-world connections with those nearby — neighbors, local businesses, and public agencies. Today, neighbors rely on Nextdoor in 276,000 neighborhoods across 11 countries. In the U.S., 1 in 4 households uses the app. Nextdoor is a privately held company based in San Francisco with backing from prominent investors. For additional information and images: nextdoor.com/newsroom.

Media contact: press@nextdoor.com