Written by Edge of Humanity Magazine Staff

Trolls aren’t mythical creatures from folklore that you used to read about. They are well-and-alive human beings.

However, these individuals hide behind the dim glow of the computer screen and create inflammatory comments with the sole purpose of upsetting others. These comments can range from an insult to verbal violence.

An online troll can be anyone, even your friendly neighbor who smiles your way whenever he sees you. Not every internet troll is a bully in real life. They are well-versed in keeping their online personality hidden.

A study found that online trolls genuinely enjoy causing pain and distress. Their personality is an amalgamation of psychopathy and sadism. They aren’t the most empathetic people out there and don’t possess any understanding or caring for others.

For them, trolling is all about power and control. Unfortunately, the digital space provides a veil of anonymity, which makes it easy for them to give in to their darkest impulses without any fear of repercussions.

A 2019 study further delved into the mind of trolls. It was seen that narcissism was a common trait they shared. Attention is one thing that fuels narcissists, and trolling offers a shortcut to notoriety. Despite it being negative, trolls experience a sense of validation and satisfaction. It’s almost like a high for them!

To put it simply, trolls lack basic humanity. They derive a sense of absolute pleasure from bullying people online. It is an entertainment of sorts.

However, not all trolls fit neatly into these categories. Some are motivated by deeper psychological factors like insecurity, loneliness, or a desire for revenge.

Infact, it is also seen that people who have high self-esteem and sadism can most likely turn out to be trolls. This takes an unexpected turn because its low self-esteem that has always been linked to antisocial online behavior, such as cyberbullying.

But cyberbullying is never straightforward. It may start as harmless fun, but soon it can spiral out of control. And, its always the victims who bear the brunt of it.

Being trolled takes a toll on one’s mental health and can lead to anxiety, depression, and even push people to commit suicide.

Research tells us that showing a troll they have upset you further reinforces this behavior. Here, you mustn’t feed the trolls but starve them. That doesn’t mean ignorance is bliss. Instead, we must do everything in our power to hold them accountable.

It’s time we rectify every nook and cranny of the internet and come up with policies that make trolling punishable. We must also stop taking it so lightly because everyone experiences it differently. It may be slight irritation for some while for others, it can be traumatizing. However, for this toxic behavior to end, we have to come together as a community.

It can start with education and awareness where we re-learn empathy and civility in our online interactions. We must each put in the necessary effort to create a positive and inclusive environment because that’s how we can build a safer online space.