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• Comment: Please edit that article rather than creating a new one. Star Mississippi 20:35, 8 February 2024 (UTC)

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Online Trolling

The word "Troll" was originally used to describe a fishing method in which a fisherman throws one or several lines into the water and drags them behind the boat in hopes of catching fish. In today's Internet context, trolling has a different meaning. As a network word, it is derived from the network community environment, and its generation is closely related to social media or network forums. The Oxford Dictionary defines trolling as "the deliberate publication of offensive or provocative online posts with the intention of upsetting someone or provoking an angry reaction from them".:Trolling can also be understood as unconstructive messages designed to provoke a reaction, draw the target (and others) into fruitless arguments, and undermine the stated purpose of the group meeting.

There are many definitions of trolling, but generally it can be summed up in four characteristics: deception (hiding motivation), provocation (trying to provoke other posters), interference (interfering with the flow of interaction), and success (if trolls fail to provoke a response from anyone, they are not considered successful).

The History of Trolling

The term trolling predates the modern Internet as we know it. According to Rakshale, the earliest mention of the word "Trolling" dates back to "Usenet" in the early 1990s."In this newsgroup, posting low hanging, often repeated questions was a common way to "troll the newbies" in an attempt to bait newer users into wasting their time by answering silly questions."

The practice of being silly and dishonest online became very common in the 1990s. This time trolling means making people angry on Internet forums or on social media, which then leads to arguments. It can be understood as a kind of simple malicious on the Internet, but in the early 2000s, trolling gradually began to become widespread on the Internet and formed a unique "troll space", which was best represented by 4chan's infamous /b/ section. Anonymous users appropriated and subsequently popularized a very specific understanding of the term "trolling." In the case of users in the troll space, people actively choose to be malicious on the network because the crazy intervention of the mainstream media over the years has led to a "trolling" subculture with a common set of values, aesthetics, and language.

Types of Troll

The researchers acknowledge that trolls are a broad category that covers many subtypes, but all of these subtypes (including seemingly sincere, complimentary online trolls) are positioned in the negative category, according to Bishop's book: "The psychology of trolling and lurking:" the role of defriending and gamification for increasing participation in online communities using seductive narratives is a variety of definitions of all kinds of trolling:

Types	Description
Lurker (Stranger)	They engage in silent activities like accidental clicks or modifying opinion polls without engaging in discussions.
Elder (Catalyst)	Elders actively initiate 'trolling for newbies' to challenge them, potentially confusing or misleading new members.
Troll (Cynic)	Trolls entertain others and themselves by causing disruptions within online communities.
Big Man (Sceptic)	Big Men post to support their worldview, potentially through provocative means.
Flirt (Follower)	Flirts engage in light teasing and sociable trolling, aimed at being entertaining rather than harmful.
MHBFY Jenny (Pacifist)	This type of troll engages in trolling to bring humor and help others see the lighter side of life.
E-Venger (Fascist)	E-Vengers troll to expose someone's 'true colors' or to reveal hidden truths.
Wizard (Enthusiast)	Wizards create content with a humorous effect, often making up stories or sharing content that's 'truthy.'
Iconoclast (Detractor)	Iconoclasts post truthful but contentious content, aiming to provoke thought or disturbance.
Ripper (Rejector)	Rippers post content that contradicts their target's worldview, often self-deprecating to gain empathy.
Chatroom Bob (Striver)	They troll to gain trust with the aim of exploiting other members.

Why do people troll?

As the current shape of the Internet is the outcome of a grassroots tradition of computer networking, and there has been an ongoing tension between laypeople and experts on the internet in the way information is presented, the term "trolling" is often misused as a catch-all label for any kind of online misbehaviour, which complicates efforts to address its impact. However, Dynel (2016) argues that unlike flaming, the essence of trolling lies in deception as it aims to secretly provokes a reaction. Therefore, the underlying goal motivating trolling appears to be self-entertainment and sometimes the amusement of others, in which the humorous experience arises as a result of deception and successful provocation of a reaction. Besides, reasons for trolling, including amusement, boredom, and revenge are often intertwined with the disinhibition effect facilitated by the anonymity of the Internet, as highlighted by Widyanto and Griffiths (2011), in which individuals feeling shielded and thus more confident in their actions.

How does trolling affect people?

Self-esteem has been consistently associated as an important determinant of mental health, and studies show that witnessing trolling was positively associated with self-esteem, whereas experiencing trolling was negatively associated. While the former explains why trolling exists, the latter highlights its harmful effects on individuals' psychological well-being. March and Marrington’s (2019) research illustrate the top five words to describe how someone felt after they had been the victim of trolling: "Feel," "annoyed," "effect," "upset," and "angry." These were considered to be emotive words which supports the premise that trolling causes victims harm and distress.

Prevention of Online Trolling

Recent research offers insights into effective strategies for its prevention, focusing on both individual and community levels.

Mindfulness and Anger Rumination

A pivotal study by Liu et al. (2022) reveals that trait mindfulness is inversely related to online trolling. This relationship is partially mediated by anger rumination, suggesting that individuals with higher levels of mindfulness are less likely to engage in persistent negative thinking, particularly anger, which in turn reduces trolling behaviours. Additionally, the study highlights the role of online disinhibition as a risk factor, strengthening the effect of anger rumination on trolling. These findings suggest that interventions targeting mindfulness, anger rumination, and online disinhibition could be effective in reducing online trolling.

Trolling Management in Online Communities

From an organizational perspective, managing trolling involves strategies tailored to the nature and objectives of the online space. As suggested by various scholars, the approach can be classified into two main perspectives

1. Micro-Level Management: This approach is suited for smaller, close-knit online communities. Here, moderation is typically handled by volunteer moderators who rely on their familiarity and trust within the community to address individual instances of trolling. This form of management requires an understanding of the community's history and dynamics, allowing moderators to effectively arbitrate between conflicting parties.
2. Macro-Level Approach: With the growth and evolution of online platforms, a macro-level approach to trolling management has been recommended. This strategy involves proactive measures by the platforms themselves, rather than individual internet users. Large-scale platforms, experiencing a constant influx of new content and members, require systematic and comprehensive moderation strategies that go beyond addressing individual instances of trolling.