Trolling And How To Respond To It | headspace (2024)

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Online trolling can cause you to feel upset, angry and distressed. Learn what it is and what you can do about it.

Trolling is when someone baits people into having pointless, time-consuming and often aggressive online discussions. It’s not OK, and if you experience it, it can be really upsetting.

The good news is, if you’re being trolled, there are things you can do and ways you can get support. You don’t have to go through this alone.

The difference between trolling and cyberbullying

Because trolling happens online, a lot of people see it as a form of cyberbullying. But there are differences between trolling and cyberbullying.

Trolling And How To Respond To It | headspace (1)

Trolling

People who troll want to start arguments and stir up trouble. They do this by posting comments or saying negative things to deliberately upset people.

People who troll don’t necessarily target one person. They will often say controversial things to get a reaction, and they don’t really have a purpose beyond getting this reaction.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is an online form of abuse, targeting a specific person. The intent of someone who cyberbullies is to cause social, psychological or even physical harm or intimidation.For example, they might continually post negative comments about you, share embarrassing photos or videos, call you names, or exclude you from group chats.

What are the possible effects of being trolled?

Online trolling can be really upsetting. You may see comments or language that insults you personally, people you know, or that you don’t agree with. This can cause you to experience feelings of:

  • frustration
  • anger
  • hurt
  • distress.

What may seem like fun and games to people who troll, can have a big negative impact on people’s lives. Comments made as a joke or just to get a reaction can cause us emotional distress.

Trolling And How To Respond To It | headspace (2)

Why do people troll?

Anyone can become a troll under certain circ*mstances – even you or your friends. Being in a bad mood, responding to troll posts with other troll posts and feeling anonymous, can all impact how we act in online discussions.

People who troll don’t usually target specific people. While their comments can make you angry or upset, they’re not typically out to hurt you for personal reasons.

Some people find amusem*nt in trolling, and for them, it’s funny to upset other people. The more attention their negative comments get, the more exciting it can be for them. But they might not understand the impact their negative posts can have on the people they troll. Because they can be somewhat anonymous online, people often say things they wouldn’t usually say face-to-face.

What can you do if you’re being trolled?

Trolling can take its toll on anyone. Constant exposure to negative content can leave us feeling exhausted, angry or distressed. That’s why it’s so important to practise self-care.

If you’re being trolled, talking to someone can help you feel supported. Reach out to a trusted adult, a friend, a teacher, a mentor, or an Elder and let them know what's going on for you.

People who troll want a reaction. They want you to get upset and keep on replying to their messages. They want you to tag your friends and pull other people into it, too. Often, by not responding they’ll get bored and move on.

Social media sites give you the option to block and report content that is offensive, or you can block the individual. If you do this to a troll, the site may notice that they’re posting nasty stuff and block their access so they can’t post anymore.

Take a screenshot before you report, block or delete it. You might be tempted to just ignore it, but it’s a good idea to screenshot the evidence in case you want to report it later.

If you feel yourself getting upset over something you’ve seen online, consider taking a break from the internet. Log out of your social accounts and stay offline for a few days. Do things you enjoy and catch up with your family or friends. This will give you a break, and hopefully lead to the troll stopping when they don’t get a response.

What can you do to prevent your own trolling behaviour?

Here are some simple tips to keep in mind to ensure you avoid being a troll.

1. Check your mood

Consider your mental state and mood before you post something. If you’re feeling angry or upset, your post may not come across the way you want it to.

2. Post as if the whole world is watching

Remember, anyone might see your post. If it has the potential to offend people (even people you don’t know), reconsider whether you should be posting it.

3. Use constructive language only

Try to be positive and build people up when you comment and post online.

4. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes

Think about how you would feel if you were the one reading your post, and consider if it could sound threatening or aggressive in any way.

5. Think twice before you post

Do you need to post this comment? Take a deep breath and think about it before you hit send.

How do I get professional support if I’m being trolled?

If you are being trolled, professional support is available:

  • Use an online or phone-based service like eheadspace, Kids Helpline or Lifeline. You can access these anonymously and free of charge.
  • Reach out to your local headspace centre to chat to one of our clinicians.

Other useful websites:

TheheadspaceClinical Reference Group oversee and approve clinical resources made available on this website.

Last reviewed 4 August 2022

Get professional support

If you feel you need help there are a range of ways we can support you.

Mental health online support Find a headspace centre Emergency assistance

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Trolling And How To Respond To It | headspace (2024)

FAQs

What is the best response to trolling? ›

Many people recommend you simply ignore trolls and don't respond in any way, but this gives the trolls even more power as it gives them the power to silence you. Instead, ignore the troll but address the problem with the “audience” in a matter of fact way.

How do you react to trolling? ›

What can you do if you're being trolled?
  1. Take care of yourself. Trolling can take its toll on anyone. ...
  2. Talk to someone. If you're being trolled, talking to someone can help you feel supported. ...
  3. Don't respond. People who troll want a reaction. ...
  4. Report or block it. ...
  5. Screenshot the evidence. ...
  6. Log off.

What's the best way to deal with a troll? ›

- Ignore them: The best way to deal with trolls is to ignore them. Trolls want attention and validation from others. If you don't give them what they want, they will lose interest and move on. Don't feed the trolls by responding or engaging with them.

What is the first rule of trolling? ›

The first rule of trolling is that you only have yourself to blame when people think you're serious and that you're an idiot.

Is trolling like stalking? ›

Like the troll, the stalker is after a response, but unlike the troll, they need a response from this victim. They can't just move on to another person because the issue that led to the stalking is victim-specific.

What is the psychological reason for trolling? ›

The findings, published in Psychological Reports, provide evidence that trolling behavior is more common among those with low self-esteem and a high fear of missing out (FOMO). “I've been researching aggressive online behavior for a few years now,” said study author Isabella L.

Why do people troll you? ›

Trolls are people who leave intentionally provocative or offensive messages on the internet in order to get attention, cause trouble or upset someone.

How do I protect myself from trolling? ›

There are some steps you can take to protect yourself if you experience repeated trolling, personal attacks or targeted harassment.
  1. Tell leaders and colleagues. ...
  2. Tell OEAC. ...
  3. Don't feed the trolls. ...
  4. Make your accounts private and safe. ...
  5. Block. ...
  6. Report it to the platforms. ...
  7. Report it to the police. ...
  8. Get some space.

How do I shut down a troll? ›

The first rule of dealing with trolls is to not engage with them. By ignoring them, you deny them the attention they crave. Trolls often thrive on getting a reaction, and responding to them can escalate the situation.

How to tell if someone is trolling you? ›

They leave hateful or negative comments.

If the comments seem like they're bullying someone, it's highly likely they're a troll. Trolls have “negative social potency” which means they enjoy saying harmful things to other people.

How to handle haters and trolls? ›

Ignore 'em

If you can buck your genes (i.e. your drive to respond to any threat in your environment) and realize some people will hate anything just to give their lives a sense of meaning, your trolls will crawl back under their bridges.

Is trolling a toxic behavior? ›

While acknowledging that trolling is not always performed with harmful intentions, it is important to mention that trolling is often associated with toxic behaviors and cyber-bullying.

What is the rule of 5 trolling? ›

It states: When trolling at 5 MPH with 50 pound test line and 5 oz. of weight, set lure to 50 feet behind the boat, and the lure will run about 5 feet under the surface.

How do you ignore trolling? ›

We've compiled a list of our best moves for dealing with trolls.
  1. Starve the troll. It's totally understandable to want to wage a war on trolls with your keyboard, but trolls thrive on others' anger, frustration and annoyance. ...
  2. Record it. ...
  3. Stand up for yourself. ...
  4. Log off. ...
  5. Tell someone you trust.

How to get revenge on a troll? ›

Dealing with Trolling
  1. Resist the urge to respond to abusive messages; this inflames the situation and demonstrates it has upset you.
  2. Block the troll's accounts.
  3. Don't post online that you're being trolled.
  4. Screenshot any interactions and report to the relevant social media platform as offensive content.

What to say to a troll on social media? ›

But there are some steps you can take to combat social media trolls: Ignore them. DO NOT engage—that's what they want, and it will motivate them to continue. Trolls seek attention and if they don't get it, they might move on.

How do you respond to a troll review? ›

First, listen to what the person has to say. Then, if a mistake has been made, correct it, let the person know what you did, and explain. troll, there to upset others and cause negative reactions, a common response is to simply ignore them.

How do I stop responding to trolls? ›

Don't Feed the Trolls

The majority of trolls thrive on the confrontation—after all, their singular goal is to get attention—so the more you ignore them, the better. Downvote their comments or block them if you're on a forum that supports such features, and move on.

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