An internet troll is a person who deliberately posts provocative, off-topic, or abusive messages on online platforms to elicit strong emotional responses, sow confusion, or derail discussion. Trolls appear across forums, social networks, comment sections, chat rooms, and multiplayer games. While sometimes the intent is mere amusement, the effects can include harassment, community breakdown, and the spread of misinformation. For other meanings see Troll (disambiguation).
Typical behaviour and tactics
Trolling covers a range of actions that aim to provoke or disrupt rather than to contribute in good faith. Common tactics include:
- Baiting: Posting inflammatory statements to attract angry replies.
- Flaming: Direct insults and aggressive language meant to start fights.
- Off-topic derailment: Repeatedly changing the subject to prevent productive discussion.
- Sockpuppetry: Using multiple accounts to amplify messages or feign support.
- Griefing: Disruptive actions in games or collaborative spaces that spoil others' experiences.
Specific examples of disruptive content or behaviour have been discussed widely; media coverage of high-profile incidents has helped public understanding of what trolling can look like online. See reporting and commentary at further reading and community resources at platform guides.
Origins and use of the term
The word "troll" in online use draws on several older senses: the mythical creature that antagonizes people, and the fishing technique "trolling," which involves dragging bait to attract fish. Early uses on Usenet and bulletin boards described people who posted messages intended to provoke or distract. Over time the label expanded to cover a variety of antagonistic behaviours on the web.
Harm, notoriety, and notable examples
Trolling can range from relatively minor annoyances to serious harassment campaigns. Harms include emotional distress, doxxing or privacy violations, coordinated abuse of individuals or communities, and amplification of false information. Some widely publicised cases have shown how anonymous or pseudonymous accounts were used to target people and provoke outrage; major news outlets covered such incidents in the 2010s and prompted debates about platform responsibility and free expression. For one high-profile case reported in 2012, see documentary coverage and analysis linked at media report and follow-up articles.
Responses, moderation, and prevention
Communities and platforms use several strategies to limit trolling. A commonly advised practice is "don't feed the trolls": avoiding replies that reward provocation. Moderation tools include comment removal, account suspension, and community moderation by volunteers. Technical approaches use filters, heuristics, and machine learning to detect abusive or repetitive patterns; projects and research into automated detection are ongoing and disputed in accuracy and fairness. For technical approaches and community rules see research summaries and platform policy pages like official moderation guides.
Distinctions and caveats
Not every rude or controversial comment is trolling. Constructive criticism, earnest debate, whistleblowing, and investigative journalism can provoke strong responses without malicious intent. Distinguishing genuine speech from deliberate provocation can be difficult and depends on context, pattern of behaviour, and intent. Some activities sometimes labelled "trolling" overlap with other phenomena such as coordinated disinformation, astroturfing, or harassment campaigns; understanding those distinctions helps communities choose appropriate responses. Further community advice and legal perspectives are discussed at policy analysis and ethics resources.