Please explain the hand and flag symbols that appear  on the page after you have submitted an answer.?

The flag is for sending  semaphore morse code messages. 

The thumbs up  is to signal that you received the message. 

the thumbs down means to repeat the message. 

As a level 6 user with an account that has been posting questions at least 8 yrs (per your question history) it's odd you'd pretend to not know about the report flag (to report a post as a violation) or the thumbs-up/thumbs-down icons (to indicate your feelings on the quality of the answer). 

The Flag Symbol on the Answers or Questions are to Report the Answer or Question 

The Hand is to Vote on the Answer if you think the Answer is Good you click the Thumbs up Button or if you think the Answer is bad you click on the Thumbs down Button 

The thumb up and thumb down icons are?so you like or unlike the answer. They are reversible. You can like or unlike your own answer ONE time and only one time. The flag icon (on questions as well as answers) Opens the report page, BUT you have to tap or click the "Report" button to report a question or answer. 

There is NO monitoring or moderation of YA by Yahoo or Verizon employees for over 6 YEARS since the end of 2014. 

The hand symbols have NOTHING to do with voting. Voting ended over 6 years and 10 months ago.