Psychology of internet trolls: They understand what hurts people but simply don't care
7 years, 8 months ago

Psychology of internet trolls: They understand what hurts people but simply don't care

ABC  

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran recently announced he had quit Twitter because he was sick of internet trolls. Psychological studies show trolls tend to be male, show higher levels of psychopathy traits — low levels of empathy, guilt and responsibility for their actions — and higher levels of sadism traits, the enjoyment of causing others physical and psychological pain. But trolls show higher motivation to achieve negative social rewards, like creating social mayhem and disruption. In other words, their high level of cognitive empathy indicates they are very good at understanding what hurts people, and their high level of psychopathy means they simply don't care. One area to change behaviour might be to teach trolls to become more empathic, in particular, targeting their low levels of affective empathy.

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History of this topic

How internet anonymity allows toxic trolls to express their 'true' psychopathic tendencies
1 year, 1 month ago

How internet anonymity allows toxic trolls to express their 'true' psychopathic tendencies

ABC  

In short: Psychologists have found that internet trolls are more likely to have latent psychopathic and sadistic traits. A study has found many keyboard warriors feel they can express their "true selves" when shrouded by anonymity. Lead author Lewis Nitschinsk, a research officer at the university's School of Psychology, studied more than 1,300 internet users across the world to see …

Social media companies could soon be forced to end anonymity for online trolls. But will this stop the trolling?
3 years, 4 months ago

Social media companies could soon be forced to end anonymity for online trolls. But will this stop the trolling?

ABC  

The federal government plans to crack down on "bots and bigots and trolls" by introducing legislation to parliament that will require social media companies to collect the details of all users. Blaming online anonymity for aggressive behaviour is "a really fundamental misunderstanding of the dynamics of these systems," Dr van der Nagel said. In 2018, the Queensland government engaged Dr …

Internet trolls are just as mean in real life, claims new study
3 years, 7 months ago

Internet trolls are just as mean in real life, claims new study

Daily Mail  

Internet bullies are just as mean in real life, according to a new study. It also found that people who are nice may choose to avoid all political discussions online - whether the forums are hostile or not, according to the study published in the American Political Science Review. Internet trolls are mean just as often online as they are …

Explained: What is Online Trolling and Legal Remedies Available to Victims
4 years ago

Explained: What is Online Trolling and Legal Remedies Available to Victims

News 18  

Trolling is worst form of online abuse, trolls use tactics such as harassment and bullying. Trolls are also used to influence and enforce rigid cultural and social customs and guidelines which may have no legal force. Trolls are usually paid manipulative tricks to post offensive material online. Targets of trolling can seek redressal under provisions which relate to criminal intimidation, …

Internet trolls are not who I thought — they're even scarier
6 years, 1 month ago

Internet trolls are not who I thought — they're even scarier

ABC  

In 2017, I wrote a major investigation into predator trolling that went viral. Meepsheep, president of a notorious trolling syndicate, said presidents are elected "maybe once every two years" and this happens live on air via the ICR call-in podcast, L0de Radio Hour. Myth 2: Trolls are uneducated losers One of the things we take comfort in is the idea …

Why good people turn bad online – and how to defeat your inner troll
6 years, 11 months ago

Why good people turn bad online – and how to defeat your inner troll

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “The way they behave even …

Troll factories, bots and fake news: Inside the Wild West of social media
7 years, 1 month ago

Troll factories, bots and fake news: Inside the Wild West of social media

Al Jazeera  

An in-depth look at the use of the internet to wage information warfare and the challenges to democracy posed by social media. You have the bots seeding and fertilising conversation around this group, and the group becomes real, people really join it and you have hundreds of thousands of people in a group and often times it actually translates into …

Online trolls: Why do people become cyberbullies?
8 years ago

Online trolls: Why do people become cyberbullies?

The Independent  

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about …

There is a fine difference between trolling and threatening on Social Media, says author Arnab Ray
8 years, 2 months ago

There is a fine difference between trolling and threatening on Social Media, says author Arnab Ray

Firstpost  

Twitter has emerged as a parallel universe for a large number of people, but there is a fine line separating trolling from “threatening” someone, says a leading user of the social media platform. Also, there was no sharing on the walls of a social media website or a snarky tweet with a link to your blog back then,” he said …

Tackling trolls in our imperfect system
10 years, 7 months ago

Tackling trolls in our imperfect system

ABC  

The "trolling" of Zelda Williams revealed the nasty side of social media and the difficulty in preventing it. Following the tragic death of Robin Williams earlier this week, we have once again seen the unfortunate and complex duality in how people use social media. These trolls are people who take to social media to intentionally cause distress by posting inflammatory …

Internet troll personality study: Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, sadism.
11 years, 1 month ago

Internet troll personality study: Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, sadism.

Slate  

In the past few years, the science of Internet trollology has made some strides. The research, conducted by Erin Buckels of the University of Manitoba and two colleagues, sought to directly investigate whether people who engage in trolling are characterized by personality traits that fall in the so-called Dark Tetrad: Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism. One was by simply asking …

Boredom drives trolling on Facebook and Twitter
11 years, 9 months ago

Boredom drives trolling on Facebook and Twitter

India TV News  

London, June 30: Boredom and amusement are behind many incidents of cyberbullying and trolling on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, a new first-of-its-kind study has found. The research by Lancaster University in UK, suggests that those who engage in trolling - Internet user behaviour that is meant to intentionally anger or frustrate someone else in order to …

Trolls who post vicious abuse on Twitter aren’t acting out of malice – they’re just bored, reveals study
11 years, 9 months ago

Trolls who post vicious abuse on Twitter aren’t acting out of malice – they’re just bored, reveals study

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The trolls who dole out vicious abuse on Twitter aren’t acting out of …

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