Week 10: Trolling in the Digital Age: From Playful Provocation to Malicious Disruption
The proliferation of the internet has facilitated the emergence of virtual social environments, fostering a new realm for human interaction. Consequently, social behaviour has transcended the physical world, migrating to the online sphere. One such behaviour, trolling, has become a pervasive issue with significant negative consequences. Many people have fallen victim to trolling and have experienced a wide range of negative psychological problems as a result, which may explain the high level of public agreement about the detrimental effect of online trolls among internet users (Volkmer et al. 2023).
Online trolling can be conceptualized as a repetitive and disruptive form of deviant online behaviour directed by an individual towards others or groups (Rodwell 2016). The perpetrator, or "internet troll," is a member of an online community who deliberately disrupts, attacks, or offends others by posting inflammatory content such as comments, photos, or videos (Volkmer et al. 2023). They always use fake usernames, profile photos, and profile descriptions (Gemiharto & M.Si 2020).
Trolls have been categorized as insult trolls, persistent debate trolls, profanity trolls, all-caps trolls, show-off trolls, and so on (Case & King 2018). One of the newest and more disturbing facets of trolling is the emergence of revenge porn (Case & King 2018). In 2016, for example, a Data & Society Research Institute study found that one in 25 Americans were harassed through revenge porn. The poll found that individuals aged 15-29 are the most likely to report being threatened with the sharing of nude or nearly nude images, a 7% occurrence. For those age 30 and older, the incidence was 2%. Another troubling aspect of trolling of late is that bots are now being used to automate trolling or the spreading of opinion. Of the 314,000 accounts tweeted two weeks before the UK referendum on European membership, 15% were heavily or entirely automated.
The Evolution of "Trolling" in Online Discourse
The concept of "trolling" in online environments has undergone a significant semantic shift in recent years. Before 2011, the term was primarily associated with transgressive humour intended to entertain a community (Bishop 2014). This aligns more closely with the classical definition of trolling, where the objective is to foster a sense of camaraderie through playful provocation.
However, the rise of "R.I.P. Trolling" – the abhorrent practice of targeting memorial pages – exemplifies a more malicious interpretation of the term (Walter et al. 2012). This trend coincides with the activities of the hacktivist group Anonymous, which popularized the use of "troll" to describe their exploitative behaviour on platforms like the Manga website (http://www.4chan.org). This distinction highlights the crucial difference between classical trolling, intended for consensual entertainment and community building, and the more recent, malicious form. Classical trolling thrives on fostering bonds within a community through a shared sense of amusement at the expense of another participant, who is considered to be "in on the joke" (Bishop 2014). In contrast, Anonymous-style trolling targets individuals outside the group, solely for the perpetrator's gratification or to share within a closed community ("clubhouse") that condones such behaviour (Bishop 2014). The motivation here is purely self-serving, inflicting distress on an unwitting victim.
Further research by Turner characterizes trolls as those who initiate seemingly legitimate discussions with the sole purpose of provoking unproductive arguments (Turner et al. 2005). This necessitates a sub-categorization within the realm of "abusive trolling." Bishop proposes "flame trolling" to describe malicious and humourless attacks, contrasting them with "kudos trolling," which employs transgressive humour (though not exclusively) to entertain others (Bishop 2012). This framework acknowledges the subjectivity of offence; what one finds offensive ("flame") could be perceived as entertaining ("kudos") by another (Bishop 2014). Applying this distinction to both classical and Anonymous-style trolling offers a more nuanced understanding of the phenomenon.
Why do people troll?
One explanation is that the internet can facilitate disinhibition (Suler 2004) which positively predicts cyberaggression (Kurek, Jose & Stuart 2019). According to an early study on trolls, users engage with trolling because they are bored, seek attention or revenge, and find it funny to create trouble for platforms and other users (Shachaf & Hara 2010). Trolls employ various tactics to achieve disruption, including messages that appear sincere but are intended to provoke, or messages that waste time through unproductive arguments (Herring et al. 2002). At times, the media and scholars conflate trolling with any negative behaviour that occurs online, e.g., cyberbullying, parody, or flaming, when the definition of trolling should be limited to social phenomena “performed individually or collectively in varying online contexts, which involves the use of antagonism, deception and vigilantism […] to provoke reactions from people or institutions” (Demsar et al. 2021). Notably, the above describes a kind of trolling behaviour that aims to negatively affect other users and online discussions.
The Effects of Trolling on Individual People and the Society
The phenomenon of online trolling has emerged as a significant concern, demonstrably impacting both individuals and society as a whole (Xavier 2022). Trolls engage in deliberately provocative behaviour, aiming to incite conflict and emotional distress within online communities. Teenagers, characterized by increased vulnerability and susceptibility to peer pressure, are particularly susceptible to the detrimental effects of trolling (Vidushi, G. & Snetageri 2020). In extreme cases, cyberbullying tactics employed by trolls have been linked to instances of self-harm and suicide among teenagers (Vidushi, G. & Snetageri 2020). Furthermore, the disclosure of personal information, such as photographs or private details, by trolls can have devastating consequences for victims (Ortiz 2020). The constant barrage of negativity and harassment disrupts emotional well-being and erodes self-esteem, not only among teenagers but also within the broader population (Xavier 2022). Social media platforms, originally designed to foster connection, have become breeding grounds for hostility due to the prevalence of trolling (Xavier 2022). This necessitates further research into the motivations and psychological underpinnings of trolling behaviour, alongside the development of effective mitigation strategies.
Solutions to Trolling Activities
Due to the multifaceted nature of trolling tactics, effectively mitigating their detrimental effects necessitates a multi-pronged approach. This necessitates addressing the issue at the individual, online platform, and legislative levels. On an individual level, a crucial tenet for internet users is to avoid engaging with trolls ("do not feed the trolls") (Cook 2019). This strategy emphasizes maintaining composure in the face of provocative or insulting messages. While adherence can be challenging, the benefits are substantial: reduced stress levels, a preserved positive mood, and conserved time. However, solely relying on individual rationality might be insufficient. In instances of severe trolling behaviour, more discreet interventions such as severing communication or disclosing the troll's identity might be warranted (Sanfilippo, Yang & Fichman 2017). Furthermore, internet users perceive ignoring not only as a reactive measure but also as a preventative strategy.
Reference list
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