Understanding Online Trolls & Abusers

“Why do shitty people always brag about being good at trolling? Troll is just another word for asshole. What kind of antisocial sociopath is proud of being an asshole?” ― Oliver Markus Malloy, Inside The Mind of an Introvert

Trolls & Abusers Online

A person I had never met or interacted with online viciously attacked me after I published my first book in 2015, writing ‘attack reviews’ and spamming my website comments section with misinformation. This prompted me to carry out research regarding Trolls and their motivations; more recently, a friend of mine told me she had recently been the subject of a trolling attack instigated by someone she had never met. This inspired this article, which I hope you will find useful. Online trolls disrupt discussions by purposefully posting comments intended to provoke and upset others. Their actions often lack a clear purpose beyond causing chaos and distress. Trolls resort to lying, exaggeration, and offensive remarks to elicit reactions from participants. These individuals often embody the Dark Tetrad personality traits, which encompass narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism. Online trolls are motivated by a variety of factors, including their personality traits and psychological characteristics. Brigham Young University USA conducted research involving 1,200 people and found that those who preferred trolling had higher Dark Tetrad scores, which include the personality traits of narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism that play a significant role in motivating this type of negative online activity.

Narcissism

Trolls often exhibit narcissistic tendencies, seeking attention, validation, and admiration from others. By provoking strong reactions and garnering attention through their disruptive conduct, trolls feed their need for recognition and significance.

Machiavellianism

Machiavellianism entails cunningness, manipulative tendencies, and a relentless pursuit of power by any means necessary. Machiavellian individuals are characterised by their manipulative nature and strategic approach to social interactions. These people can engage in trolling as a means of exerting control and power over others, manipulating online conversations to achieve their own ends, or simply causing chaos for their own amusement.

Psychopathy

Psychopathic traits, such as a lack of empathy, remorse, and impulse control, contribute to trolling activities. Trolls may derive pleasure from inflicting emotional distress on others without regard for the consequences, reflecting their callous and antisocial tendencies.

Sadism

Sadistic individuals derive satisfaction from the suffering of others. Trolls can be seeking a way to experience a sense of power and superiority over their victims, enjoying the emotional reactions and distress they try to provoke.

Additional factors, such as anonymity, a lack of accountability, and a pattern of antisocial and impulsive online interactions, contribute to the motivation behind trolling. Online platforms provide anonymity, enabling these individuals to act without fear of face-to-face consequences. The disconnection between online interactions and potential real-life consequences can lead trolls to engage in behaviours they might not otherwise exhibit in real-life situations. Ultimately, the motivations behind trolling are a combination of personality traits, psychological factors, and situational variables. Understanding these motivations can help individuals and online communities develop strategies to mitigate trolling and create more positive and respectful online environments.

Negative Consequences of Trolling

“Claiming to be offended is a great way to elevate yourself at the expense of others: “Look at me! I’m a much better person than you! And I judge you! I condemn you! Shame! Shame! SHAME!” These social media shamings bear an uncanny resemblance to medieval witch hunts.” ― Oliver Markus Malloy, Author

The negative outcomes of troll activity online can have wide-ranging consequences for individuals, online communities, and society as a whole including:

Emotional Distress

Trolling often involves harassment, bullying, and personal attacks, which can cause significant emotional distress and psychological harm to the targets of the trolling. Victims may experience feelings of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and even suicidal ideation as a result of the relentless harassment and abuse.

Damage to Reputation

Trolls may engage in smear campaigns, spreading false information or malicious rumours about their targets in an attempt to damage their reputation and credibility. This can have serious consequences for individuals, especially those in positions of influence or authority, leading to reputational harm, professional repercussions, and personal stress.

Disruption to Online Communities

Trolling activities can disrupt online communities and forums, creating a hostile and toxic atmosphere that drives away users and undermines the sense of community and belonging. Trolls may hijack discussions, derail conversations, and create conflict and division within online groups, leading to decreased participation and engagement.

Spread of Misinformation

These individuals may spread false information, propaganda, or conspiracy theories as part of their trolling efforts, contributing to the spread of misinformation and disinformation online. This can undermine trust in reliable sources of information, fuel conspiracy theories and polarisation, and have serious implications for public discourse and democratic processes.

Harm to Businesses & Organizations

Trolling can have negative repercussions for businesses, organizations, and brands, particularly if they become targets of coordinated trolling campaigns. Trolls may engage in smear tactics, negative reviews, and online harassment directed at businesses and organisations, leading to reputational damage, loss of customers or supporters, and financial harm.

Chilling Effects & Censorship

In response to trolling, online platforms may implement stricter moderation policies, censorship measures, or content restrictions to combat harassment and abuse. While these measures may be necessary to protect users from harm, they can also have unintended consequences, such as limiting free expression, stifling debate, and creating a chilling effect on online discourse.

Trolling activity online can have serious and far-reaching negative outcomes, affecting individuals, communities, and society in profound ways. It is essential to address and mitigate trolling through proactive measures, education, and community engagement to create a safer, more inclusive, and more respectful online environment for everyone.

How to Handle Nasty Trolls!

Dealing with online trolls can be challenging, but there are several strategies that you and online communities can employ to effectively manage trolling behaviour including:

Ignoring

Trolls thrive on attention and reactions from their targets. By ignoring their provocations and refusing to engage with them, you deny them the satisfaction they seek. Instead, focus your energy on positive interactions with others or disengage from the conversation altogether.

Stay Calm & Composed

Trolls often aim to provoke emotional reactions from their targets. By remaining calm, composed, and rational in your responses, you deprive them of the satisfaction of seeing you upset or angry. Remember that their goal is to elicit a reaction, so refusing to give them one can be an effective strategy.

Maintain Boundaries

Set clear boundaries for yourself regarding what you will tolerate online. Refuse to engage with trolls or participate in discussions that are likely to attract trolling. Stick to topics that are meaningful and constructive, and avoid feeding into negativity.

Report & Block

Most online platforms have mechanisms in place for reporting abusive or harassing behaviour. If you encounter a troll, report their activity to the platform administrators and consider blocking them to prevent further interactions.

Engage in Positive Online Exchanges

Instead of directly engaging with trolls, focus on promoting positive and constructive dialogue within online communities. Share helpful information, offer support to others, and contribute to discussions in a meaningful and respectful manner. By fostering a positive atmosphere, you can help counteract the influence of trolls and create a more supportive online environment.

Educating Others

Raising awareness within online communities about the tactics used by trolls and the impact of their behaviour can be very productive. Encourage others to recognise trolling and respond appropriately by ignoring, reporting, and blocking trolls. By educating others about the issue, you can empower individuals to take action and mitigate the effects of this type of toxic online activity.

The key to dealing with online trolls is to avoid giving them the attention and reaction they seek while promoting positive and constructive interactions within online communities. By employing these strategies and working together as a community, we can minimise the impact of trolling behaviour and foster a more enjoyable and respectful online environment for everyone.

References:

Internet Trolls Are Narcissists, Psychopaths, and Sadists https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/your-online-secrets/201409/internet-trolls-are-narcissists-psychopaths-and-sadists

REVEALED: The four personality traits which make an internet troll: Scientists say a combination of narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy and schadenfreude turns people into online bullies https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9726765/Internet-trolls-possess-narcissism-Machiavellianism-psychopathy-schadenfreude-study-finds.html

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Trolls & Abusers Online

Negative Consequences of Trolling

How to Handle Nasty Trolls!

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