Trolling on the internet is the practice of performing insulting or aggressive acts against others online, usually with the intention of getting a rise out of the victim. This can manifest itself in many ways, such as repeated messages (or spamming), threats, or explicit messages and images. As the internet grows in popularity and more people turn to digital media to express themselves, trolls gain in number and power. They contribute nothing of value to the community, and make users uncomfortable participating.
We have discussed previously in class the ethical responsibilities that companies have to their customers. In this case, I believe that the companies creating these online communities have not only a moral obligation but also a business obligation to protect their users against trolls. It is in the companies’ best interest to have their users feel comfortable in the community they have created, and trolls are extremely detrimental to the overall health of the community. Most companies implement this through a reporting tool or similar feature, however many victims do not think this goes far enough. I would encourage companies to put more resources into managing their communities, as it is where the real value of the company lies. Allowing more community moderation or providing incentives for helping to improve community health would be interesting and powerful steps towards improving the experience of users. These companies have an obligation to their users to protect them and make their product a useful tool for every single user they have.
While anonymity on the internet can of course be abused, I believe that it is a good thing in the general sense. The ability to be anonymous helps protect free speech, especially in repressed populations. It also allows people to embrace their personalities online without fear of retribution in the real world. Furthermore, I do not think that removing this anonymity would be a solution to the internet troll issue. Bullying has been a social issue for many years before the rise of the internet. Despite these being public acts, bullies still exist and exert their fear on victims all around the world. Similarly, people on Facebook have shown a willingness to participate in troll-like actions under their real name, and in view of their entire social network no less. The removal of the anonymous persona from social networks would not prevent trolling, as public identification does not seem to be a concern for a bully.
At the end of the day, I do not believe that trolling is a major issue for the internet at large. The severity of trolling depends quite largely on the community and the time moderators and companies put in to creating a comfortable, collaborative environment. While simply turning the other cheek can be an effective strategy for individuals to combat trolls, it should not be their only option. The support of their online community should allow them to handle any “troll-y” situations and continue to comfortably and meaningfully contribute to that community for a long time to come.
kosercseethics 