Blog 5 Week 7- Regulating the Trolls?
Internet Troll 281x300 (Bit Social Media 2013)
#Is Provocation healthy for the community?
âProvocation should be understood in context and examined in terms of the way it can not only problematise, but also productively intensify, vitalise and sustain publics within social media sitesâ (McCosker 2014, p.202 )
Provocative thoughts, opinions and campaigns have the power to change cultures and public opinion by challenging the status quo, this is no different for digital communities. Mouffeâs theory of agonistic pluralism in which challenging behaviours and opinions between adversaries can produce positive changes through conflict in a democratic society (cited by McCosker 2014, p.206), such as challenging racial discrimination, or activists and the general public questioning the way Australia treats our hens. Through challenging opinions productive change has occurred. Stores are stocking and customers are now choosing free range eggs.
 Misuse of social media platforms
It seems that there has been a long standing relationship between Trolling, (sending or posting provocative content for amusement of the Troll or to cause embarrassment or harm towards one or more parties) and the use of social media and networking. The below scale highlights cyber-bullying is proportionately increasing to the use of social media platforms.Â
 (Bishop 2013 p.303)
 Is Cyber-bulling a criminal act?
Flame Trolling is designed to harm others for gratification and to create discomfort (Bishop 2013 p.302). This scale below is being used by the Crown Prosecution Services and Attorney General in the United Kingdom (UK) as recommended courses of action in relationship to how serious the cyber offense is. The scale includes the type, potential gravity and severity of the offence (Bishop 2013 p.313).
Table 1: The Trolling Magnitude (Bishop 2013 p.313)
 Australia has started to take this idea of cyber-bullying seriously due to examples such as Chloeâs. Tragically she took her life at age 15, after being unable to cope with the ongoing physical and cyber abuse.
(Law Report 2014)
UKâs law response is in contrast to Australiaâs solution. In December 2014 an E-Safety commissioner was appointed to demand sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube be responsible for acting quickly and appropriately towards complaints of trolling and illegal behaviour, such as harassment or threats of violence towards children ((Law Report 2014). However what about the other vulnerable digital community, the adults?
Is this step enough?
 Perhaps education and awareness is a potential solution? I have attached in a following post a video that I found inspiring, students showing how cyber-bullying has affected them and their thoughts on how to combat the problem.
 âThere exists on the internet a sizable constituency prepared to say ghastly, unspeakable things with seemingly no consideration for the feelings of their victimsâ   (Trolling the Trolls; Recent events have shown that online abuse can end in tragedy. The police and social media companies should both play a greater role in curbing excesses 2014)
 In most everyday lives we do not have people come up and ridicule our speech, threaten rape, deface a memorial for our loved ones or yell profanities in our face on the street....... so why is it deemed acceptable or treated flippantly when it is done through digital channels?
Donât feed the trolls (Sony 2014)
 References
Bishop,J 2013, âThe art of trolling law enforcement:a review and model for implementing âflame trolling' legislation enacted in Great Britain (1981â2012)â, International Review of Law, Computers & Technology, vol 27, no.3, pp 301-318,  DOI:10.1080/13600869.2013.796706
âDonât feed the trollsâ, [image],in Sony 2014, viewed 5 January 2015,<https://forums.station.sony.com/landmark/index.php?threads/dont-feed-the-trolls.43219/>.
âInternet Troll 281x300â, [image], in Bit Social Media 2013, viewed 14 December 2014, <http://bitsocialmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Internet-Troll-281x300.jpg>.
Law Report 2014, âWeek 7â,Can A Cyber-Bullying Commissioner Protect Our Kids?, Radio National, 27 February, Learning materials on blackboard, Swinburne University of Technology, 5 January 2015, viewed 5 January 2015.
McCosker, A 2014,âWeek 7â, YouTrolling as provocation: Tube's agonistics publics, Learning materials on blackboard, Swinburne University of Technology, 5 January 2015, viewed 14 December 2014.
 âTrolling the Trolls; Recent events have shown that online abuse can end in tragedy. The police and social media companies should both play a greater role in curbing excessesâ 2014, The Times London, October 17,