diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index acdf9dd8e..d56e97e2b 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -25477,7 +25477,7 @@
       "dependencies": {
         "async": {
           "version": "1.5.2",
-          "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/async/-/async-1.5.2.tgz",
+          "resolved": "http://registry.npmjs.org/async/-/async-1.5.2.tgz",
           "integrity": "sha1-7GphrlZIDAw8skHJVhjiCJL5Zyo=",
           "dev": true
         }
diff --git a/src/core/client/admin/components/ModerateCard/MarkersContainer.spec.tsx b/src/core/client/admin/components/ModerateCard/MarkersContainer.spec.tsx
index 5ce58dfac..655ca1441 100644
--- a/src/core/client/admin/components/ModerateCard/MarkersContainer.spec.tsx
+++ b/src/core/client/admin/components/ModerateCard/MarkersContainer.spec.tsx
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ it("renders all markers", () => {
               COMMENT_DETECTED_SUSPECT_WORD: 1,
               COMMENT_REPORTED_OFFENSIVE: 2,
               COMMENT_REPORTED_SPAM: 3,
+              COMMENT_DETECTED_NEW_COMMENTER: 0,
               COMMENT_DETECTED_REPEAT_POST: 1,
             },
           },
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ it("renders some markers", () => {
               COMMENT_DETECTED_SUSPECT_WORD: 0,
               COMMENT_REPORTED_OFFENSIVE: 2,
               COMMENT_REPORTED_SPAM: 0,
+              COMMENT_DETECTED_NEW_COMMENTER: 0,
               COMMENT_DETECTED_REPEAT_POST: 0,
             },
           },
diff --git a/src/core/client/admin/components/ModerateCard/MarkersContainer.tsx b/src/core/client/admin/components/ModerateCard/MarkersContainer.tsx
index c52b9604a..636979109 100644
--- a/src/core/client/admin/components/ModerateCard/MarkersContainer.tsx
+++ b/src/core/client/admin/components/ModerateCard/MarkersContainer.tsx
@@ -120,6 +120,14 @@ const markers: Array<
         </Marker>
       )) ||
     null,
+  c =>
+    (c.revision &&
+      c.revision.actionCounts.flag.reasons.COMMENT_DETECTED_NEW_COMMENTER && (
+        <Localized id="moderate-marker-newCommenter" key={keyCounter++}>
+          <Marker color="reported">New commenter</Marker>
+        </Localized>
+      )) ||
+    null,
 ];
 
 export class MarkersContainer extends React.Component<MarkersContainerProps> {
@@ -170,6 +178,7 @@ const enhanced = withFragmentContainer<MarkersContainerProps>({
               COMMENT_DETECTED_SUSPECT_WORD
               COMMENT_REPORTED_OFFENSIVE
               COMMENT_REPORTED_SPAM
+              COMMENT_DETECTED_NEW_COMMENTER
               COMMENT_DETECTED_REPEAT_POST
             }
           }
diff --git a/src/core/client/admin/components/ModerateCard/__snapshots__/MarkersContainer.spec.tsx.snap b/src/core/client/admin/components/ModerateCard/__snapshots__/MarkersContainer.spec.tsx.snap
index 40019d894..c3f571219 100644
--- a/src/core/client/admin/components/ModerateCard/__snapshots__/MarkersContainer.spec.tsx.snap
+++ b/src/core/client/admin/components/ModerateCard/__snapshots__/MarkersContainer.spec.tsx.snap
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ exports[`renders all markers 1`] = `
                 "reasons": Object {
                   "COMMENT_DETECTED_BANNED_WORD": 1,
                   "COMMENT_DETECTED_LINKS": 1,
+                  "COMMENT_DETECTED_NEW_COMMENTER": 0,
                   "COMMENT_DETECTED_RECENT_HISTORY": 1,
                   "COMMENT_DETECTED_REPEAT_POST": 1,
                   "COMMENT_DETECTED_SPAM": 1,
@@ -170,6 +171,7 @@ exports[`renders some markers 1`] = `
                 "reasons": Object {
                   "COMMENT_DETECTED_BANNED_WORD": 1,
                   "COMMENT_DETECTED_LINKS": 0,
+                  "COMMENT_DETECTED_NEW_COMMENTER": 0,
                   "COMMENT_DETECTED_RECENT_HISTORY": 1,
                   "COMMENT_DETECTED_REPEAT_POST": 0,
                   "COMMENT_DETECTED_SPAM": 0,
diff --git a/src/core/client/admin/routes/Configure/sections/Moderation/ModerationConfigContainer.tsx b/src/core/client/admin/routes/Configure/sections/Moderation/ModerationConfigContainer.tsx
index d8d2b836f..fb5120be9 100644
--- a/src/core/client/admin/routes/Configure/sections/Moderation/ModerationConfigContainer.tsx
+++ b/src/core/client/admin/routes/Configure/sections/Moderation/ModerationConfigContainer.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { HorizontalGutter } from "coral-ui/components";
 import { ModerationConfigContainer_settings as SettingsData } from "coral-admin/__generated__/ModerationConfigContainer_settings.graphql";
 
 import AkismetConfig from "./AkismetConfig";
+import NewCommentersConfig from "./NewCommentersConfig";
 import PerspectiveConfig from "./PerspectiveConfig";
 import PreModerationConfig from "./PreModerationConfig";
 import RecentCommentHistoryConfig from "./RecentCommentHistoryConfig";
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ export const ModerationConfigContainer: React.FunctionComponent<Props> = ({
   return (
     <HorizontalGutter size="double" data-testid="configure-moderationContainer">
       <PreModerationConfig disabled={submitting} />
+      <NewCommentersConfig disabled={submitting} />
       <RecentCommentHistoryConfig disabled={submitting} />
       <PerspectiveConfig disabled={submitting} />
       <AkismetConfig disabled={submitting} />
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@ const enhanced = withFragmentContainer<Props>({
       ...PerspectiveConfig_formValues @relay(mask: false)
       ...PreModerationConfig_formValues @relay(mask: false)
       ...RecentCommentHistoryConfig_formValues @relay(mask: false)
+      ...NewCommentersConfigContainer_settings @relay(mask: false)
     }
   `,
 })(ModerationConfigContainer);
diff --git a/src/core/client/admin/routes/Configure/sections/Moderation/NewCommentersConfig.css b/src/core/client/admin/routes/Configure/sections/Moderation/NewCommentersConfig.css
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3648e55cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/client/admin/routes/Configure/sections/Moderation/NewCommentersConfig.css
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+.thresholdTextField {
+  width: calc(6 * var(--mini-unit));
+}
diff --git a/src/core/client/admin/routes/Configure/sections/Moderation/NewCommentersConfig.tsx b/src/core/client/admin/routes/Configure/sections/Moderation/NewCommentersConfig.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b35e38f86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/client/admin/routes/Configure/sections/Moderation/NewCommentersConfig.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+import { Localized } from "@fluent/react/compat";
+import React, { FunctionComponent } from "react";
+import { Field } from "react-final-form";
+import { graphql } from "react-relay";
+
+import { ValidationMessage } from "coral-framework/lib/form";
+import {
+  composeValidators,
+  required,
+  validateWholeNumberGreaterThan,
+} from "coral-framework/lib/validation";
+import {
+  FieldSet,
+  FormField,
+  FormFieldDescription,
+  Label,
+  TextField,
+} from "coral-ui/components/v2";
+
+import ConfigBox from "../../ConfigBox";
+import Header from "../../Header";
+import OnOffField from "../../OnOffField";
+
+import styles from "./NewCommentersConfig.css";
+
+interface Props {
+  disabled: boolean;
+}
+
+// eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-expressions
+graphql`
+  fragment NewCommentersConfigContainer_settings on Settings {
+    newCommenters {
+      premodEnabled
+      approvedCommentsThreshold
+    }
+  }
+`;
+
+const NewCommentersConfig: FunctionComponent<Props> = ({ disabled }) => {
+  return (
+    <ConfigBox
+      title={
+        <Localized id="configure-moderation-newCommenters-title">
+          <Header container="legend">New commenter approval</Header>
+        </Localized>
+      }
+    >
+      <Localized id="configure-moderation-newCommenters-description">
+        <FormFieldDescription>
+          When this is active, initial comments by a new commenter will be sent
+          to Pending for moderator approval before publication.
+        </FormFieldDescription>
+      </Localized>
+      <FormField container={<FieldSet />}>
+        <Localized id="configure-moderation-newCommenters-enable">
+          <Label component="legend">Enable new commenter approval</Label>
+        </Localized>
+        <OnOffField name="newCommenters.premodEnabled" disabled={disabled} />
+      </FormField>
+      <FormField>
+        <Localized id="configure-moderation-newCommenters-approvedCommentsThreshold">
+          <Label>Number of first comments sent for approval</Label>
+        </Localized>
+        <Field
+          name="newCommenters.approvedCommentsThreshold"
+          validate={composeValidators(
+            required,
+            validateWholeNumberGreaterThan(1)
+          )}
+        >
+          {({ input, meta }) => (
+            <>
+              <TextField
+                classes={{
+                  input: styles.thresholdTextField,
+                }}
+                disabled={disabled}
+                autoComplete="off"
+                autoCorrect="off"
+                autoCapitalize="off"
+                spellCheck={false}
+                textAlignCenter
+                adornment={
+                  <Localized id="configure-moderation-newCommenters-comments">
+                    comments
+                  </Localized>
+                }
+                {...input}
+              />
+              <ValidationMessage meta={meta} />
+            </>
+          )}
+        </Field>
+      </FormField>
+    </ConfigBox>
+  );
+};
+
+export default NewCommentersConfig;
diff --git a/src/core/client/admin/test/configure/__snapshots__/moderation.spec.tsx.snap b/src/core/client/admin/test/configure/__snapshots__/moderation.spec.tsx.snap
index d5133d6c6..d4a90365c 100644
--- a/src/core/client/admin/test/configure/__snapshots__/moderation.spec.tsx.snap
+++ b/src/core/client/admin/test/configure/__snapshots__/moderation.spec.tsx.snap
@@ -275,6 +275,128 @@ approved by a moderator.
               </fieldset>
             </div>
           </fieldset>
+          <div
+            className="Box-root ConfigBox-root"
+          >
+            <div
+              className="Box-root Flex-root ConfigBox-title Flex-flex Flex-justifySpaceBetween"
+            >
+              <div>
+                <legend
+                  className="Header-root"
+                >
+                  New commenter approval
+                </legend>
+              </div>
+              <div />
+            </div>
+            <div
+              className="ConfigBox-content"
+            >
+              <div
+                className="Box-root HorizontalGutter-root HorizontalGutter-spacing-4"
+              >
+                <p
+                  className="FormFieldDescription-root"
+                >
+                  When this is active, initial comments by a new commenter will be sent to Pending
+for moderator approval before publication.
+                </p>
+                <fieldset
+                  className="FieldSet-root Box-root HorizontalGutter-root FormField-root HorizontalGutter-spacing-2"
+                >
+                  <legend
+                    className="Label-root"
+                  >
+                    Enable new commenter approval
+                  </legend>
+                  <div>
+                    <div
+                      className="Box-root Flex-root RadioButton-root Flex-flex Flex-alignCenter"
+                    >
+                      <input
+                        checked={false}
+                        className="RadioButton-input"
+                        disabled={false}
+                        id="newCommenters.premodEnabled-true"
+                        name="newCommenters.premodEnabled"
+                        onBlur={[Function]}
+                        onChange={[Function]}
+                        onFocus={[Function]}
+                        type="radio"
+                        value="true"
+                      />
+                      <label
+                        className="RadioButton-label"
+                        htmlFor="newCommenters.premodEnabled-true"
+                      >
+                        <span>
+                          On
+                        </span>
+                      </label>
+                    </div>
+                    <div
+                      className="Box-root Flex-root RadioButton-root Flex-flex Flex-alignCenter"
+                    >
+                      <input
+                        checked={true}
+                        className="RadioButton-input"
+                        disabled={false}
+                        id="newCommenters.premodEnabled-false"
+                        name="newCommenters.premodEnabled"
+                        onBlur={[Function]}
+                        onChange={[Function]}
+                        onFocus={[Function]}
+                        type="radio"
+                        value="false"
+                      />
+                      <label
+                        className="RadioButton-label"
+                        htmlFor="newCommenters.premodEnabled-false"
+                      >
+                        <span>
+                          Off
+                        </span>
+                      </label>
+                    </div>
+                  </div>
+                </fieldset>
+                <div
+                  className="Box-root HorizontalGutter-root FormField-root HorizontalGutter-spacing-2"
+                >
+                  <label
+                    className="Label-root"
+                  >
+                    Number of first comments sent for approval
+                  </label>
+                  <div
+                    className="TextField-root"
+                  >
+                    <input
+                      autoCapitalize="off"
+                      autoComplete="off"
+                      autoCorrect="off"
+                      className="TextField-input NewCommentersConfig-thresholdTextField TextField-colorRegular TextField-textAlignCenter"
+                      disabled={false}
+                      name="newCommenters.approvedCommentsThreshold"
+                      onBlur={[Function]}
+                      onChange={[Function]}
+                      onFocus={[Function]}
+                      placeholder=""
+                      spellCheck={false}
+                      type="text"
+                      value={2}
+                    />
+                    <div
+                      className="TextField-adornment"
+                    >
+                      comments
+                    </div>
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          </div>
           <fieldset
             className="FieldSet-root Box-root ConfigBox-root"
           >
diff --git a/src/core/client/admin/test/fixtures.ts b/src/core/client/admin/test/fixtures.ts
index 8f2c1a71b..200317f50 100644
--- a/src/core/client/admin/test/fixtures.ts
+++ b/src/core/client/admin/test/fixtures.ts
@@ -161,6 +161,10 @@ export const settings = createFixture<GQLSettings>({
     changeUsername: true,
     deleteAccount: true,
   },
+  newCommenters: {
+    premodEnabled: false,
+    approvedCommentsThreshold: 2,
+  },
   slack: {
     channels: [],
   },
@@ -532,6 +536,7 @@ export const baseComment = createFixture<GQLComment>({
           COMMENT_DETECTED_SUSPECT_WORD: 0,
           COMMENT_REPORTED_OFFENSIVE: 0,
           COMMENT_REPORTED_SPAM: 0,
+          COMMENT_DETECTED_NEW_COMMENTER: 0,
           COMMENT_DETECTED_REPEAT_POST: 0,
         },
       },
diff --git a/src/core/client/test/helpers/fixture.ts b/src/core/client/test/helpers/fixture.ts
index 7853896fe..95990a0e8 100644
--- a/src/core/client/test/helpers/fixture.ts
+++ b/src/core/client/test/helpers/fixture.ts
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ export function createComment(author?: GQLUser) {
             COMMENT_DETECTED_SUSPECT_WORD: 0,
             COMMENT_REPORTED_OFFENSIVE: 0,
             COMMENT_REPORTED_SPAM: 0,
+            COMMENT_DETECTED_NEW_COMMENTER: 0,
             COMMENT_DETECTED_REPEAT_POST: 0,
           },
         },
@@ -148,6 +149,7 @@ export function createComment(author?: GQLUser) {
           COMMENT_DETECTED_BANNED_WORD: 0,
           COMMENT_DETECTED_SUSPECT_WORD: 0,
           COMMENT_DETECTED_PREMOD_USER: 0,
+          COMMENT_DETECTED_NEW_COMMENTER: 0,
           COMMENT_DETECTED_REPEAT_POST: 0,
         },
       },
@@ -286,6 +288,10 @@ export function createSettings() {
         enabled: false,
       },
     },
+    newCommenters: {
+      premodEnabled: false,
+      approvedCommentsThreshold: 2,
+    },
     auth: {
       integrations: {
         local: {
diff --git a/src/core/server/graph/tenant/schema/schema.graphql b/src/core/server/graph/tenant/schema/schema.graphql
index ccefe4ada..bec03d482 100644
--- a/src/core/server/graph/tenant/schema/schema.graphql
+++ b/src/core/server/graph/tenant/schema/schema.graphql
@@ -179,6 +179,7 @@ enum COMMENT_FLAG_REASON {
   COMMENT_DETECTED_SUSPECT_WORD
   COMMENT_DETECTED_RECENT_HISTORY
   COMMENT_DETECTED_PREMOD_USER
+  COMMENT_DETECTED_NEW_COMMENTER
   COMMENT_DETECTED_REPEAT_POST
 }
 
@@ -215,6 +216,7 @@ type FlagReasonActionCounts {
   COMMENT_DETECTED_SUSPECT_WORD: Int!
   COMMENT_DETECTED_RECENT_HISTORY: Int!
   COMMENT_DETECTED_PREMOD_USER: Int!
+  COMMENT_DETECTED_NEW_COMMENTER: Int!
   COMMENT_DETECTED_REPEAT_POST: Int!
 }
 
@@ -1194,6 +1196,23 @@ type StaffConfiguration {
   label: String!
 }
 
+"""
+NewCommenterConfiguration specifies the features that apply to new commenters
+"""
+type NewCommentersConfiguration {
+  """
+  premodEnabled ensures that new commenters' comments are pre-moderated until they have
+  enough approved comments
+  """
+  premodEnabled: Boolean!
+
+  """
+  approvedCommentsThreshold is the number of comments a user must have approved before their
+  comments do not require premoderation
+  """
+  approvedCommentsThreshold: Int!
+}
+
 """
 Settings stores the global settings for a given Tenant.
 """
@@ -1339,6 +1358,11 @@ type Settings {
   createdAt is the time that the Settings was created at.
   """
   createdAt: Time! @auth(roles: [ADMIN])
+
+  """
+  newCommenters is the configuration for how new commenters comments are treated.
+  """
+  newCommenters: NewCommentersConfiguration! @auth(roles: [ADMIN])
 }
 
 ################################################################################
@@ -3525,6 +3549,23 @@ input SlackConfigurationInput {
   channels: [SlackChannelConfigurationInput!]
 }
 
+"""
+NewCommenterConfigurationInput specifies the features that apply to new commenters
+"""
+input NewCommentersConfigurationInput {
+  """
+  premodEnabled ensures that new commenters' comments are pre-moderated until they have
+  enough approved comments
+  """
+  premodEnabled: Boolean
+
+  """
+  approvedCommentsThreshold is the number of comments a user must have approved before their
+  comments do not require premoderation
+  """
+  approvedCommentsThreshold: Int
+}
+
 """
 SettingsInput is the partial type of the Settings type for performing mutations.
 """
@@ -3644,6 +3685,11 @@ input SettingsInput {
   locale specifies the locale for this Tenant.
   """
   locale: Locale
+
+  """
+  newCommenters is the configuration for how new commenters comments are treated.
+  """
+  newCommenters: NewCommentersConfigurationInput
 }
 
 """
diff --git a/src/core/server/models/action/__snapshots__/comment.spec.ts.snap b/src/core/server/models/action/__snapshots__/comment.spec.ts.snap
index 231b48750..02d0dd225 100644
--- a/src/core/server/models/action/__snapshots__/comment.spec.ts.snap
+++ b/src/core/server/models/action/__snapshots__/comment.spec.ts.snap
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ Object {
     "reasons": Object {
       "COMMENT_DETECTED_BANNED_WORD": 1,
       "COMMENT_DETECTED_LINKS": 0,
+      "COMMENT_DETECTED_NEW_COMMENTER": 0,
       "COMMENT_DETECTED_PREMOD_USER": 0,
       "COMMENT_DETECTED_RECENT_HISTORY": 0,
       "COMMENT_DETECTED_REPEAT_POST": 0,
diff --git a/src/core/server/models/settings.ts b/src/core/server/models/settings.ts
index c85880b6b..3b96c4aad 100644
--- a/src/core/server/models/settings.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/models/settings.ts
@@ -95,6 +95,14 @@ export interface AccountFeatures {
   downloadComments: boolean;
 }
 
+/**
+ * NewCommentersConfiguration is the configuration for how new commenters comments are treated.
+ */
+export interface NewCommentersConfiguration {
+  premodEnabled: boolean;
+  approvedCommentsThreshold: number;
+}
+
 /**
  * Auth is the set of configured authentication integrations.
  */
@@ -165,4 +173,9 @@ export type Settings = GlobalModerationSettings &
      * AccountFeatures are features enabled for commenter accounts
      */
     accountFeatures: AccountFeatures;
+
+    /**
+     * newCommenters is the configuration for how new commenters comments are treated.
+     */
+    newCommenters: NewCommentersConfiguration;
   };
diff --git a/src/core/server/models/story/counts/shared.ts b/src/core/server/models/story/counts/shared.ts
index 02916fab0..f20ebadf6 100644
--- a/src/core/server/models/story/counts/shared.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/models/story/counts/shared.ts
@@ -157,8 +157,8 @@ export async function retrieveSharedModerationQueueQueuesCounts(
 
   const [[, fresh], [, queues]] = await redis
     .pipeline()
-    .hgetall(key)
     .get(freshKey)
+    .hgetall(key)
     .exec();
   if (!fresh || !queues) {
     logger.debug({ tenantID }, "comment moderation counts were not cached");
diff --git a/src/core/server/models/tenant/tenant.ts b/src/core/server/models/tenant/tenant.ts
index ce370a732..573d3ce47 100644
--- a/src/core/server/models/tenant/tenant.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/models/tenant/tenant.ts
@@ -197,6 +197,10 @@ export async function createTenant(
       deleteAccount: false,
       downloadComments: false,
     },
+    newCommenters: {
+      premodEnabled: false,
+      approvedCommentsThreshold: 2,
+    },
     createdAt: now,
     slack: {
       channels: [],
diff --git a/src/core/server/models/user/user.ts b/src/core/server/models/user/user.ts
index 777869dfd..c146a252c 100644
--- a/src/core/server/models/user/user.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/models/user/user.ts
@@ -472,6 +472,10 @@ export interface User extends TenantResource {
    */
   deletedAt?: Date;
 
+  /**
+   * commentCounts are the tallies of all comment statuses for this
+   * user.
+   */
   commentCounts: UserCommentCounts;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/core/server/services/comments/pipeline/phases/index.ts b/src/core/server/services/comments/pipeline/phases/index.ts
index baf14c50f..70506a164 100644
--- a/src/core/server/services/comments/pipeline/phases/index.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/services/comments/pipeline/phases/index.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { detectLinks } from "./detectLinks";
 import { linkify } from "./linkify";
 import { preModerate } from "./preModerate";
 import { premodUser } from "./preModerateUser";
+import { premodNewCommenter } from "./premodNewCommenter";
 import { purify } from "./purify";
 import { recentCommentHistory } from "./recentCommentHistory";
 import { repeatPost } from "./repeatPost";
@@ -33,4 +34,5 @@ export const moderationPhases: IntermediateModerationPhase[] = [
   detectLinks,
   preModerate,
   premodUser,
+  premodNewCommenter,
 ];
diff --git a/src/core/server/services/comments/pipeline/phases/premodNewCommenter.ts b/src/core/server/services/comments/pipeline/phases/premodNewCommenter.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..57eae4224
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/server/services/comments/pipeline/phases/premodNewCommenter.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import {
+  GQLCOMMENT_FLAG_REASON,
+  GQLCOMMENT_STATUS,
+} from "coral-server/graph/tenant/schema/__generated__/types";
+import { ACTION_TYPE } from "coral-server/models/action/comment";
+import {
+  IntermediatePhaseResult,
+  ModerationPhaseContext,
+} from "coral-server/services/comments/pipeline";
+
+export const premodNewCommenter = async ({
+  tenant,
+  author,
+  mongo,
+  now,
+}: Pick<
+  ModerationPhaseContext,
+  "author" | "tenant" | "now" | "mongo"
+>): Promise<IntermediatePhaseResult | void> => {
+  // Ensure this mode is enabled.
+  if (!tenant.newCommenters.premodEnabled) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (
+    author.commentCounts.status.APPROVED <
+    tenant.newCommenters.approvedCommentsThreshold
+  ) {
+    return {
+      status: GQLCOMMENT_STATUS.SYSTEM_WITHHELD,
+      actions: [
+        {
+          userID: null,
+          actionType: ACTION_TYPE.FLAG,
+          reason: GQLCOMMENT_FLAG_REASON.COMMENT_DETECTED_NEW_COMMENTER,
+          metadata: {
+            count: author.commentCounts.status.APPROVED,
+          },
+        },
+      ],
+    };
+  }
+};
diff --git a/src/core/server/services/migrate/migrations/1570712877087_add_newcommenters_settings_to_tenant.ts b/src/core/server/services/migrate/migrations/1570712877087_add_newcommenters_settings_to_tenant.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1bea1db63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/server/services/migrate/migrations/1570712877087_add_newcommenters_settings_to_tenant.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import { Db } from "mongodb";
+
+// Use the following collections reference to interact with specific
+// collections.
+import collections from "coral-server/services/mongodb/collections";
+
+import Migration from "coral-server/services/migrate/migration";
+
+export default class extends Migration {
+  public async up(mongo: Db, tenantID: string) {
+    const result = await collections.tenants(mongo).updateOne(
+      {
+        id: tenantID,
+        newCommenters: null,
+      },
+      {
+        $set: {
+          newCommenters: {
+            premodEnabled: false,
+            approvedCommentsThreshold: 2,
+          },
+        },
+      }
+    );
+    this.log(tenantID).warn(
+      {
+        matchedCount: result.matchedCount,
+        modifiedCount: result.matchedCount,
+      },
+      "added new commenters config"
+    );
+  }
+
+  public async down(mongo: Db, tenantID: string) {
+    const result = await collections.tenants(mongo).updateOne(
+      {
+        id: tenantID,
+        newCommenters: {
+          $exists: true,
+        },
+      },
+      {
+        $unset: {
+          newCommenters: "",
+        },
+      }
+    );
+    this.log(tenantID).warn(
+      {
+        matchedCount: result.matchedCount,
+        modifiedCount: result.matchedCount,
+      },
+      "removed new commenters config"
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/locales/en-US/admin.ftl b/src/locales/en-US/admin.ftl
index 74b2bbb3c..e717808b9 100644
--- a/src/locales/en-US/admin.ftl
+++ b/src/locales/en-US/admin.ftl
@@ -323,6 +323,19 @@ configure-moderation-perspective-accountNote =
   For additional information on how to set up the Perspective Toxic Comment Filter please visit:
   <externalLink>https://github.com/conversationai/perspectiveapi#readme</externalLink>
 
+configure-moderation-newCommenters-title = New commenter approval
+configure-moderation-newCommenters-enable = Enable new commenter approval
+configure-moderation-newCommenters-description =
+  When this is active, initial comments by a new commenter will be sent to Pending
+  for moderator approval before publication.
+configure-moderation-newCommenters-enable-description = Enable pre-moderation for new commenters
+configure-moderation-newCommenters-approvedCommentsThreshold = Number of first comments sent for approval
+configure-moderation-newCommenters-approvedCommentsThreshold-description =
+  The number of comments a user must have approved before they do
+  not have to be premoderated
+configure-moderation-newCommenters-comments = comments
+
+
 #### Banned Words Configuration
 configure-wordList-banned-bannedWordsAndPhrases = Banned words and phrases
 configure-wordList-banned-explanation =
@@ -426,6 +439,7 @@ moderate-marker-toxic = Toxic
 moderate-marker-recentHistory = Recent history
 moderate-marker-bodyCount = Body count
 moderate-marker-offensive = Offensive
+moderate-marker-newCommenter = New commenter
 moderate-marker-repeatPost = Repeat comment
 
 moderate-markers-details = Details