What is the point of Internet trolling?

What is the point of Internet trolling?

An internet troll is someone who makes intentionally inflammatory, rude, or upsetting statements online to elicit strong emotional responses in people or to steer the conversation off-topic. They can come in many forms.

Is trolling a form of cyberbullying?

According to Internet sources, ‘trolling’ (also known as cyber bullying or Internet-bullying) is the anti-social act of causing personal conflict and controversy online. Trolling is recognised as deliberately inflicting hatred, bigotry, racism, misogyny, or just simple bickering between others.

Are internet trolls common?

Of participants, 69% said this was an example of internet trolling, 16% said no, and 15% were unsure). That aligns with a more common definition of internet trolling as destructive and disruptive online behaviour that causes harm to others. But this definition has only really evolved in more recent years.

Why is online trolling bad?

A troll can disrupt the discussion on a newsgroup or online forum, disseminate bad advice, and damage the feeling of trust in the online community. Furthermore, in a group that has become sensitized to trolling – where the rate of deception is high – many honestly naïve questions may be quickly rejected as trolling.

How should we react to trolls?

Here are four ways you can respond to comment trolls:

1. Ignore Them.
2. Acknowledge the Commenter’s Misunderstanding.
3. Engage in Thoughtful Debate.
4. Admit When You’re Wrong.

How do I spot a social media troll?

Trolls can be found almost anywhere there is social interaction: forums, public group chats, blog comment sections, and, of course, social media channels. One easy way to check if a user is real or fake is to take a look at his/her/their account name and handle.

Can you spot fake social media accounts?

They may use profile pictures that are not of an actual person, or simply an avatar. Be wary of accounts with no original images. Posts that contain no written content at all, or written content with many spelling or grammatical errors, could be signs of a fake account as well. Analyze account transparency.

What to do if you are being trolled online?

What should you do if you’re being trolled?

1. Don’t respond.
2. Block the trolls’ accounts.
3. Don’t post online that you’re being targeted.
4. Take some time out from social media.
5. If the abuse you receive makes you feel at threat or is otherwise unlawful – report it to the social media platform and the police.