by Amy Skentelbery
WITH recent pressures, online trolling is becoming more and more apparent. What is internet trolling, and what are the consequences?
In Internet slang, a troll is a person who starts quarrels or upsets people on the Internet. This is done by posting messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking emotional responses. This can be done for various reasons such as amusement or specific gain.
Media attention in recent years has equated trolling with online harassment. Internet trolling can take shape in many forms, but the most common form is people commenting on other’s Instagram photos, Facebook posts, and also using Twitter.
While some forms of trolling are designed to make clever statements about topical issues (for example, political debates) other forms can be much more harmful on a personal level.
Trolling is a form of cyber bullying and comes with devastating mental health consequences. There are varies studies documenting what trolling does to people’s hearts and minds and the results are disturbing. Cyber bullying can affect the victim’s everyday life and can be a constant source of distress and worry. With mobile technology being so freely available it is an ongoing issue and one that is relentless.
Studies have concluded that compared to texts and phone calls, social media posts are the most damaging form of cyber bullying. This is why it is considered instead of shaming someone publicly you should get in touch privately and discuss any issues or opinions directly.
Victims of cyber bullying are more depressed, irritable, and angry and are almost twice as likely to attempt suicide. Some of the feelings that negative comments over the internet can cause include; feeling overwhelmed, vulnerable, powerless, exposed and even humiliated. Trolling can also cause a person to feel dissatisfied with who they are, create feelings of anger and even give the person disinterest in life.
Internet trolling is now being taken seriously by law and can have serious consequences In the United Kingdom. In October 2014, the UK’s Justice Secretary said that “Internet trolls” could face up to two years in jail. Several people have been imprisoned in the UK for online harassment.
In contrast to internet trolling, the internet has also become a great place for online community, support, and love. It has brought people all over the world closer together and holds messages of hope and inspiration.
All users of the internet have a choice. It can be used as a platform to lift others or knock people down. A difference of opinion can be worded in kind and friendly ways and therefore open up healthy debates and great discussions, rather than online arguments, abuse and upset. People have the opportunity to support each other, and it is important for everyone to remember that there is a person sat behind a computer screen or mobile phone.
You can read more about how to protect yourself from internet trolls here:
mental health support lines:
https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/helplines.htm
References
“Definition of troll”. Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
“Definition of: trolling”. PCMAG.COM. Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
Indiana University: University Information Technology Services (5 May 2008). “What is a troll?”. Indiana University Knowledge Base. The Trustees of Indiana University. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
“Internet trolls face up to two years in jail under new laws”. BBC News. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
UK Ministry of Justice (20 October 2014). “Internet trolls to face 2 years in prison”. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
https://www.bullying.co.uk/cyberbullying/effects-of-cyberbullying/
https://www.verywellfamily.com/what-are-the-effects-of-cyberbullying-460558
4 Comments
Regrettably some trolling is also conducted by our national and local politicians with claim and counter claim being levelled in the adversarial atmosphere our our political arenas. What to one party, most likely the one in power, begins as a piece of information brought to public attention, could well be construed by their political opponents as “point scoring.”
Well done Amy good analysis Ando sound advice.
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