When a seller believes that a review violates the guidelines, they can flag it for moderation. Linden Lab then checks the review and removes it if the violation is confirmed. Until last year, this process worked reliably and within reasonable delays.

However, over the past few months, customer support response times have grown dramatically. This slowdown directly affects Marketplace review moderation, leading to delays that no longer make sense. Based on my experience, the average wait time is now around three months.

As a result, insulting, defamatory, misleading, or completely off-topic reviews — often a combination of all three — can remain publicly visible on a product for months before any action is taken.

For many merchants, Marketplace reviews are already a significant source of stress. But with the current moderation delays, the system has become deeply unbalanced: sellers are exposed for months to harmful comments that should normally be removed quickly, while having no actionable way to protect their brand or business during that time.

The review system is essential, but only when it is supported by timely and effective moderation. In its current state, it no longer fulfills its purpose and creates unnecessary harm for merchants who rely on the Marketplace for their income.

Given the current situation, the most reasonable solution is straightforward: until moderation can operate again within acceptable timeframes, the review system should be temporarily disabled entirely. This is the only way to prevent lasting, unjustified damage to merchants while ensuring the integrity of the Marketplace.