Moderation can run as a one-off check on assets you pick, or continuously in the background as new content arrives. Most teams end up using both - this guide helps you choose the right one for each situation.
The short answer
Use one-time moderation to review existing content.
Use ongoing moderation (automation) when content keeps coming in; it should be checked automatically.
Use one-time moderation when…
You're reviewing an existing collection. A folder of product images, last season's campaign assets, a migration from another system.
You're checking a campaign batch before launch. Run once, review the results, fix or replace what fails.
You're trying out a new rule or policy. A one-time run on a small sample shows you how strict a rule is before you rely on it.
You want full control before anything happens. One-time runs change nothing in your Media Library by themselves - you review first, then act.
Use ongoing moderation when…
New content arrives continuously. Uploads from regional teams, agencies, partners, or user-generated content.
Standards must be enforced in real time. Every new asset in a watched folder is checked as it arrives, without anyone remembering to run it.
You've settled on your rules. Automations work best with a tested policy, so results are consistent and predictable.
Note that ongoing moderation is a Pro feature and needs to be enabled for your account.
Examples
Situation | Recommended |
Audit 3,000 existing product images against new brand guidelines | One-time |
Check every new upload to the "user-submissions" folder | Ongoing |
Validate a campaign's hero images before launch day | One-time |
Enforce white backgrounds on all new e-commerce photos | Ongoing |
Test a new "no watermarks" rule before trusting it | One-time |
Flag AI-generated images in anything agencies deliver going forward | Ongoing |
They work together
A common setup: run one-time moderation to clean up what you already have, then switch on an automation with the same policy so the folder stays clean. Because both use the same rules and policies, the standard is identical either way.