Trolls and their trolling– The hidden face of social media
Trolling, once a niche behavior on internet forums, has transformed into a global trend that impacts lives, careers, and cultures. Defined as intentionally posting provocative or offensive messages to incite reactions, trolling is now a persistent part of online spaces. In Bollywood, reality TV, and social media, celebrities and public figures have become prime targets for trolls, influencing both the public discourse and the emotional well-being.
Abstract
There is growing evidence to suggest that bullying results in deep emotional damage. Borderless cyberspace transforms the nature of bullying and serves as a risky territory where more and more bullies are at large, which in turn, increases the extent of victimization in cyber-space. The current study investigated the cyberbullying victimization among Turkish members of an online social utility. The analysis sample consisted of 1470 participants who were recruited with a 28-item web-based survey. The survey had a high internal consistency coefficient and explained more than half of the total variance with a single-factor structure.
Findings revealed that several background variables influenced cyberbullying victimization, including: gender; marital and socioeconomic status; purpose; frequency; location; time and nature of Internet use and language proficiency. Observed gender differences varied according to Internet connection locations. In addition, socioeconomic differences varied according to surfing patterns. Forum and blog use predicted victimization significantly.
On the other hand, some critical variables did not have an influence on the extent of victimization such as age, education level and Internet proficiency. The source of victimization was predominantly international websites rather than Turkish websites. Findings were discussed followed by implications and suggestions for further research.
The Bollywood Connection
In India, Bollywood stars are often under intense public scrutiny, and trolls eagerly seize any opportunity to criticize their actions. For instance, when Deepika Padukone publicly spoke about her struggle with depression, she faced not only support but also an avalanche of skepticism and insensitive comments questioning her motives. Similarly, when Bollywood celebrities address social issues or take political stances, trolls often attack them, citing a perceived double standard or questioning their patriotism.
In another instance, Aamir Khan’s comments on intolerance in India sparked backlash on social media, with trolls harassing him and calling for boycotts of his films. As a result, the trolling culture has added a layer of fear for many celebrities, who carefully curate their statements, fearing public misinterpretation or harsh judgment.
In 2016, Bollywood actress Radhika Apte found herself in the middle of a controversy, when an explicit video of a scene from her film, Parched, was leaked and posted without any context on the internet. The actress as a result had to field inappropriate questions from the media, endure cyber bullying and was slut shamed. Radhika stood up for herself and her agency, and called out the trolls, earning the applause of many.
In a case of art imitating life, Kalki Koechelin has starred in a short film called Naked that tells a similar story. She plays an actress who gets subjected to intense cyber bullying when a similarly explicit video clip of hers goes viral.
The 14-minute short then explores the anger and the myriad emotions that she experiences due to the rampant slut shaming, name calling and abuse she has had to endure as a result of this incident. During a subsequent interview she fiercely calls out the double standards inherent in society that enables rape culture.
Reality TV and Trolling: Bigg Boss and the “Villain” Label
The world of reality TV, particularly Bigg Boss has provided a breeding ground for trolling. Contestants in the show are constantly in the public eye, and social media fuels their every action, word, or disagreement with a flood of comments. Most recently, Avinash Mishra, a contestant on Bigg Boss Season 18, was dubbed the season’s “real villain” by audiences. The trolling against Mishra is intense, often crossing the boundaries of criticism into cyberbullying. This culture of trolling in reality TV often frames individuals as either heroes or villains, creating a dichotomy that promotes negative and sometimes destructive commentary.
Social Media: The Epicenter of Troll Culture
The spread of trolling also corresponds with the rise of social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, where users feel a sense of anonymity and freedom. Here, celebrities, politicians, and everyday people alike are exposed to unfiltered opinions, often harsh and hurtful. Politicians such as Shashi Tharoor and actors like Swara Bhasker frequently face trolling for their social and political opinions, turning online spaces into arenas of hostile debates. In these spaces, trolls do not simply aim to criticize; they engage in coordinated attempts to mock, discredit, and demoralize.
Navigating the Fine Line: From Criticism to Cyberbullying
While criticism is a fundamental aspect of free speech, trolling often goes beyond constructive feedback, descending into cyberbullying. Studies have shown that trolling impacts mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, and in extreme cases, self-harm. Many Bollywood stars have spoken up about their struggles with online hate. Anushka Sharma, for example, faced trolling after being blamed for the Indian cricket team’s poor performance due to her relationship with Virat Kohli, despite there being no logical basis for the criticism.
Responses and the Future of Trolling
Some celebrities have adopted a more resilient approach to trolling. Priyanka Chopra, who has been at the receiving end of trolling for her personal and professional choices, often chooses to ignore negative comments or respond with grace. Others, like Sonakshi Sinha, have publicly called out trolls, urging their fans to spread positivity instead of hate. Platforms are also responding by implementing stricter guidelines and introducing tools that help users filter offensive content.
The trolling phenomenon reflects a deeper societal issue—how anonymity can empower individuals to act in ways they might not in face-to-face interactions. As platforms evolve, the hope is to foster a digital culture where respect and constructive dialogue take precedence over hostility, but until then, the virtual battleground remains a challenging space for public figures and ordinary users alike.
In the meantime, the persistence of trolling serves as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with online interactions, emphasizing the need for empathy and consideration in our increasingly digital lives.
Highlights
- Online shaming is a rapidly increasing and global phenomenon .
- Framings in news coverage can inform / shape public understandings of social issues.
- Now in 2024 even the Indian media has the power the make headlines just for TRPS no facts checking and nothing .
Conclusion
A troller can disrupt the discussion on a new group or on an online forum, disseminate bad advice and can destroy the feeling of trust in the online community. But now no more ….. because why be afraid of those who can’t even show their faces. Through an experiment simulating an online discussion, we find that both negative mood and seeing troll posts by others significantly increases the probability of a user trolling, and together doubles this probability. To support and extend these results, we study how these same mechanisms play out in the wild via a data-driven, longitudinal analysis of a large online news discussion community.
Trolls are people with serious sociological, psychological, and deep-seated mental issues, stemming from either regulatory offense, mental disease, and problems with their sexual identity. They hide behind their anonymity and they just spew venom on whoever they want to , So dear trolls let’s sit together and talk face to face.. let’s see who you are or you are real or fake !! because now no troll is safe.
Trolling stems from both innate and situational factors –where prior work has discussed the former, this work focuses on the latter, and reveals that both mood and discussion context affect trolling behavior. This suggests the importance of different design affordances to manage either type of trolling. Rather than banning all users who troll and violate community norms, also considering measures that mitigate the situational factors that lead to trolling may better reflect the reality of how trolling occurs.
#STOP Trolling .
STICKS AND STONES CAN ONLY BREAK THE BONES, BUT WORDS CAN KILL YOU.
References
- 1.Akbulut Yavuz, Sahin Yusuf Levent, Eristi Bahadir. Cyberbullying Victimization among Turkish Online Social Utility Members. Educ Technol Soc 2010 [Google Scholar]
