Troll

Being an influencer on social media, or having a public account can come with its own demerits. There are positive comments that can make your day as well as negative comments that can be very triggering. There are people known as trolls who go about creating a negative environment on social media. A “troll” is someone who deliberately provokes or annoys others by posting inflammatory, irrelevant, or offensive comments or messages. Trolls seek to disrupt discussions, upset people, or create conflict within online communities.

Characteristics of a troll –

1. Provocative Comments: Posting statements designed to incite anger or controversy.
2. Off-Topic Posts: Introducing irrelevant or unrelated topics to derail conversations.
3. Personal Attacks: Insulting or attacking individuals to provoke emotional responses.
4. Persistent Behavior: Continuously engaging in disruptive behaviour even after being asked to stop.
5. Anonymous Profiles: Often use fake or anonymous profiles to hide their identity.

Common trolling tactics –

1. Flaming: Aggressive and heated exchanges that escalate quickly.
2. Baiting: Posting something controversial or offensive to elicit a reaction.
3. Spamming: Posting the same message repeatedly to clutter conversations.
4. Sockpuppetry: Using multiple fake accounts to create the illusion of support for their viewpoint or to gang up on others.
5. Doxing: Sharing someone’s personal information without consent to intimidate or harass them.

How to deal with trolls –

1. Trolls thrive on attention. Ignoring them can often be the most effective way to deal with them, as it deprives them of the reaction they seek.
2. Use moderation tools available on social media platforms to filter out offensive or irrelevant comments.
3. Most platforms allow you to block users, preventing them from interacting with you.
4. Report trolling behaviour to the platform. Many platforms have policies against harassment and will take action against offenders.
5. Clearly state what behaviour is unacceptable in your online community or on your social media profiles. Apply your rules consistently to everyone to maintain a respectful environment.
6. If you choose to respond, do so calmly and professionally. This can defuse the situation and show that you won’t be easily provoked.
7. Inform your community about trolls and encourage them not to engage with or feed trolls.
8. Adjust your privacy settings to limit who can comment on your posts or send you messages.
9. Keep records of any harassment or threats. In extreme cases, where trolls make threats or share personal information (doxing), seek legal advice or contact law enforcement.

Trolls can be a significant challenge in maintaining a positive and constructive online environment. By understanding their tactics and implementing strategies to deal with them, you can help protect yourself and your community from their disruptive behaviour.

Other social media terms –

1. Niche Marketing
2. Meme
3. Live Streaming
4. Keyword Research
5. Heatmap