People believe just because they are in an online environment they can act differently than they would in really life. However, these words can soon turn into real life consequences. Internet trolls are those pathetic people usually wanting to seek attention by posting offensive comments, writing demeaning and offensive blogs, or even posting images. ARE WE PROTECTED FROM TROLLS IN ANY WAY? Well the answer isn’t that clear…. “The criminal code part 10.6 regulates internet services and some of the areas that it part encompasses are, child abuse material, child pornography, as well as using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause an offence to reasonable person as stated in 10.6 Division 474.17(1).” (http:www.findlaw.com.au/articles/4259/internet-trolls-can-be-prosecuted-under-australian.aspx) however, nowhere does it state anything about the internet troll, or every day cyber bully. This code is merely a way of REGULATING rather than punishing. In Australia there is no concrete law stopping cyber bullies and or/internet trolls. However, after the ever increasing teen suicides and self-harm, and suicides of those in the public eye, Australians have been pushing for an actual concrete law to punish those who cyber bully and/ or troll. The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) and www.TheDailyTelegraph.com.au created a petition in 2012 to stop trolls on twitter, Facebook and other social media sites. They state that their goal ‘is to push for twitter to be obligated to work with authorities when these cowards have broken the law, bullied and abused others simply because they can, hidden by their anonymity.’ When the petition got closed it managed to get 1,164 signatures. As two more years went on, we saw an even greater escalation in deaths and self harm caused by trolls on the internet. It wasn’t till the death of media personality Charlotte Dawson that it really hit home to some people. Dawson had been fighting a long battle with her demons, which were only made worse by internet trolls which would send her comments such as “go kill yourself” or “why don’t you go hang yourself, you’re so annoying.” After one suicide attempt in late 2013, Dawson sadly passed away on February 22nd 2014. Even after her death she was still attacked by trolls that would say she got what she deserved, as she spent her whole life judging people. For those of you who don’t know what Dawson did for a living, she was a judge on Australia’s Next Top Model; she made a living on telling girls they weren’t pretty or thin enough to be a model. Regardless of what she said or did in her career, sever trolling should NOT be accepted! After Dawsons death another petition was created on change.org. however, this time it was not solely directed at the social media sites, rather the government. Unlike the first petition that only received 1,164 signatures, this new petition entitiled ‘Charlottes Law’ reached 199,413 signatures, 587 away from it being considered or even looked at by the government, “We as that the Australian and State Governemnts introduce cyber-bullying laws to tackle serious online abuse- not just from kids, but for adults too. The police also need the resources to be able to enforce them, and act against those who relentlessly harass others online.” People are beginning to realise that times are changing, there is no longer a few ways a person can harass another person, rather now with social media there is new way for people to harm innocent beings, and more needs to be done to protect people from not only real world bullying but also that, that occurs in the public and private social media sphere. Overall, we can see how trolling plays a major role in social media and digital citizenship in the 21st century and how the world and worlds governments are now having to adapt to this new way of causing harm to another human being, they are having to now consider social media as a new type of world, where peoples actions are now beginning to have consequences outside the social media sphere.
