The Battle Against Online Trolling & Misinformation
Many of us are familiar with internet trolling, but as social media evolves, the definition of trolling also evolved. The term is now more commonly seen as an “intentional, malicious, online behavior rather than a harmless activity for mutual enjoyment” according to Evita March (2019). It is true that many take to social media and say cruel and uncalled for things to other individuals, often for what seems like no good reason at all. Social media makes it just too easy for people to do this as anyone with access to the internet can make a social media account and keep it anonymous. Additionally, there are no real life consequences for people who take to social media to cyberbully and troll others.
These are relevant points that I have gained insight on and came to my attention from the article The Future of Free Speech, Trolls, Anonymity, and Fake News Online. The authors of this article tackled the question of “In the next decade, will public discourse online become more or less shaped by bad actors, harassment, trolls, and an overall tone of griping, distrust, and disgust?” and had technology experts, scholars, corporate practitioners and government leaders chime in on their thoughts about the question (Rainie, Anderson & Albright, 2017). The authors stated that anonymity online allows for anti social behavior, and that trolling and other destructive behaviors often result because people do not recognize or don’t care about the consequences that come from their online actions (Rainie, Anderson & Albright, 2017). When I think about it, there really are no consequences for online behavior besides getting their account restricted or deleted, but it is all too easy to make a new account in minutes.
I have personally experienced online harassment and hostile communication via social media dozens of times. I would say that the most common is men who are upset and frustrated that I have not responded to their online message. Just last week, I became victim to online harassment from a man who I didn’t respond to, and it led to him calling me a number of names, and repetitively insulting me. The good thing about the internet is blocking is very easy and simple, and was a tool I was able to use to avoid any more negativity from this person behind this account. I was also able to report his account as well, a tool that Instagram, like most other platforms, allows individuals to do in order to raise a red flag on the account and call for their account receiving consequences.
While Instagram may have a massive harassment problem, it attempts to offer solutions by providing tips and advice for Instagram users who are experiencing online harassment and/or trolling. Instagram also addresses misinformation, so they began teaming up with third-parting fact checkers in the US to help identify, review, and label false information. This information comes from instagram itself, making it credible and accurate information about how Instagram is attempting to combat issues that users face on the platform.