An internet troll is someone who aims to provoke others over online platforms to gain attention, create chaos, or simply instigate some harmless fun. These internet trolls are everywhere and their behavior is not inherent.
Anyone can be a troll on the internet – even you! For example, you might wake up on the wrong side of your bed one day and unconsciously decide that you must punish some random strangers over the internet to feel better.
There’s no harm in being an internet troll, as long as you’re not hurting someone’s feelings or causing any real damage. However, there are no hard and fast rules for trolling, so people tend to cross the line time and time again. The best way to deal with internet trolls is to pretend like they don’t exist; your ignorance will serve as the worst kind of torture for them.
I’ve identified seven common types of internet trolls on social media and I’m sure you know them too:
Fake News Caster
Fake News Casters are the ones who publish sensational posts or tweets that don’t have a grain of truth in them. Their objective is to create “clickbait” so people engage with their content and make them the center of attention. Many clueless social media users are easily influenced by their nonsense and contribute to making them famous.
Some examples of fake news that many people believed to be true included “5G will kill people” and “Elon Musk’s Starlink (satellite internet) will create an internet monopoly in the world”. Regarding the second statement, I’d like to clarify that satellite internet has major limitations, so it won’t be able to replace fiber, cable, and other land-based connections anytime soon.
Therefore, if you want a reliable internet service right now, I’d suggest a fiber-based connection for the highest speeds and stability. You may check out Cox Deals while you’re looking at different internet providers.
The Reckless Insulter
This internet troll doesn’t want to see other people happy because they are leading a miserable life themselves. Their social media avatar is some strange cartoon or fictional character, and they hide behind this façade while insulting random citizens.
The reckless insulter might call you an attention seeker (or worse) for posting your picture. Some even have the audacity to call people ugly or body shame them while hiding behind a fake name and profile photo. These people are plain haters and attempt to project their own insecurities on others; thus, pay them no attention.
Spelling & Grammar Prodigy
Many people don’t care about following grammar rules and spelling out every word correctly while they’re commenting on social media. Nobody has the time to thoroughly read comments left by unknown people or care if the sentences are properly structured.
However, some trolls out there like to roleplay the spelling and grammar police. Their mission has nothing to do with helping you improve your language skills. They just want to provoke you and maybe make you feel bad about yourself – don’t give in to their tactics.
The Know-it-all
Let’s say you post something for fun and everyone is having a good time until one person spoils the mood with their “cold hard facts”. If you ask them for a reference or proof of their claim, they’ll tell you to do your research.
The know-it-all might also say something like “I read it in the New Yorker or Times magazine”. Their purpose is to show off or demonstrate that they are so classy and cultured, while the reality is usually the complete opposite.
Eternally Offended
It’s so easy to offend people nowadays, and some people simply enjoy playing the victim card. No matter how careful you are while crafting a comment or sharing a point of view, someone out there might take it in a negative sense.
Eternally offended internet trolls are on the lookout for the slightest chance to create drama. They’re on a mission to make a big deal out of something negligible or non-existent. If you happen to encounter someone like this, know that trying to explain yourself will only make it worse.
The Off-Topic Debater
Isn’t it annoying when you’re discussing something important on an online public forum, and someone barges into the conversation with something completely irrelevant? The off-topic debater is a troll who aims to divert your attention from a subject and encourage you to argue with them. I’d say they have nothing better to do and bothering others grants them joy.
Blatant Spammer
Last but not least, let’s talk about those trolls who keep posting unrelated links on every social media post possible. They are either trying to sell something, promoting their “channel”, or begging for subscribers/followers. It’s amazing how they think that spamming other people’s posts will work in their favor.
Have you noticed or encountered any of the mentioned internet trolls? If yes, we’d love to hear how you dealt with them (or didn’t?). Also, have you ever tried trolling people on the internet?
