This article was published on the culpanews website on Thursday, 09/05/2024, and on moneyview website on Monday, 13/05/2024.

The concept of trolling has significantly evolved since its inception in the late 1990s. Even compared to 2016, which The New Yorker dubbed “The Year of Political Trolling,” the landscape of social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, blogs, etc.) has transformed profoundly.

Initially solitary, peculiar, and irritable individuals, trolls have since become organized groups, powerful tools in the hands of governments, political entities, and various organizations. These groups use a range of tactics to disrupt online discourse, interfere in democratic processes, incite hate, and influence election outcomes.

The Evolution of Trolling

“Trolling” broadly refers to harassing, criticizing, or antagonizing people and organizations through sharp, ironic, irrelevant, or offensive comments, as well as through public ridicule and overt defamation. Most social media users have encountered trolls at least once, with some having had several negative experiences.

There are four main types of online trolls:

1. Meme-based trolls aimed at humor
2. Harmless trolls whose comments are simply of low quality
3. Argumentative trolls who challenge others’ comments without sound reasoning
4. Political trolls dedicated to spreading misinformation and intensifying online political discourse

The role of political trolls has expanded into a powerful and sometimes dangerous tool in online political communication, working to distort and drown out truth and factuality. Their impact on political discourse is substantial and always detrimental to the quality of public dialogue. As such, it is essential to recognize a few key points when discussing political trolling.

Political trolling can range from personal entertainment to fully developed campaigns by governments, political rivals, and adversaries. For instance, Russian trolls have worked overtime to support Kremlin interests, from the annexation of Crimea to U.S. elections. In the Philippines, trolls have been used extensively to secure presidential victories, while in Venezuela, citizens can sign up as trolls in exchange for food vouchers.

In Europe, Hungary’s government-backed trolls target opponents of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. In Poland, trolls have been used to spread hate against the LGBTQI community, challenge strikes, and undermine the credibility of critics of public television. In Turkey, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has its own “AK-trolls” specifically organized to push the party’s agenda.

Despite varied origins, the primary goal of political trolls remains consistent:

• Distract the public from pressing social issues
• Undermine online dialogue and popular social media platforms by spreading false news and promoting division among political and social groups

Carlos Guimarães Pinto, former leader of Portugal’s Liberal Initiative party, emphasizes that political trolling often targets specific issues that may not be particularly significant but resonate with sensitive social concerns for both the public and politicians. “Trolls aim to cast doubt on reality and steer public discussion toward less important areas,” says Pinto.

Recognizing Different Trolling Tactics

Trolling spans a spectrum from the more innocent to the “militant,” from humorous memes to highly dangerous and toxic behavior. How can we identify the various types of trolling online?

• Bombarding posts on social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, etc.) with excessive comments, often irrelevant or redundant
• Using aggressive language or making personal attacks to provoke emotional or even political reactions
• Posting comments or tweets designed to mock and distort the truth, often as a form of cyberbullying

As trolling tactics become more sophisticated, it is important to recognize them and be prepared to address them. By understanding and acknowledging these tactics, we can protect our political discourse from the negative impact of political trolling, which is increasingly influential in our social and political lives. It’s helpful to understand the nature and goals of trolling to be prepared to follow a few suggestions when encountering trolls online:

1. Avoid emotional reactions: Do not respond to trolls’ comments with anger or frustration, as this can provoke further reactions.
2. Ignore them: Often, the best response to a troll is no response at all. Simply avoid engaging and continue the discussion with others.
3. Respond politely: If you choose to respond, do so respectfully. Providing logical arguments and avoiding provocation can help defuse the situation.
4. Report them to moderators: If a troll violates platform rules, you can report them to the site administrators.
5. Protect your well-being: Maintain your self-respect and don’t allow unwanted comments to affect your self-esteem. Recognize that trolls’ comments often reflect more about them than about you.

Keeping these in mind, we can be better prepared for our online encounters, knowing how to handle trolls when they cross our digital paths and ensuring their voices and comments don’t impact us negatively.