Guidelines for Harassing an Online Bully

In the digital age, internet trolls have become a persistent issue on online forums and social media platforms. These individuals intentionally post provocative, insulting, or misleading comments with the aim of causing disruption and distress.

One way to identify a potential troll is by recognising certain characteristics. A troll's account may be relatively new, have a strange profile picture, or post content that is thematically incongruous. Their responses may also be linguistically inadequate, indicating they might be automated programs, or bots, designed to spread misinformation.

Internet trolls often act anonymously, not using their real names. This anonymity can make it challenging to trace the true author of problematic posts. However, checking a profile's existence duration, authenticity of the profile picture, and content posted can help identify a potential bot.

When faced with a troll, it's advised not to engage to avoid drawing more attention. If engagement is necessary, it should be done calmly and factually, reminding the troll to follow discussion rules. However, it's crucial to avoid responding to provocations or insults, as this can escalate the situation.

In cases where a troll continues with provocations or insults, it's important to report the incidents to the platform operator for action. Most platforms provide buttons to report and block problematic users, and to have provocations or insults removed.

Internet trolls can have far-reaching consequences, and their actions are generally punishable by law. Insults or defamation are considered criminal offences, and filing a criminal complaint with the police is an option for affected individuals. Personal data of the target may also be posted online by trolls, which can lead to further issues.

In some cases, states use trolls to spread disinformation, such as Russia's use of trolls to destabilize other states from within and support radical parties. This is a part of hybrid warfare, a strategy that combines traditional military tactics with political, economic, and information warfare.

When dealing with internet trolls, it's important to remember that they argue unsoundly, avoid questions, and provoke intentionally, often with racist and sexist sentiments. By understanding their behaviour, we can better protect ourselves and our online communities from their negative influence.

Affected individuals can take screenshots as evidence and file a criminal complaint with the police, even against an anonymous troll. However, it's important to note that criminal complaints against anonymous trolls must be filed within three months of first learning of the insult or defamation.

In conclusion, internet trolls pose a significant challenge to online communities, but by recognising their behaviour, not engaging with them, and reporting them to platform operators, we can help create safer, more respectful online spaces.