New research shows trolls don’t just enjoy hurting others, they also feel good about themselves
A new Australian study shows if a person has high levels of sadism and high self-esteem, they are more likely to troll.
Primary Results
Our experiments taught us why people troll
You might think that trolling on the internet is done by a small, vocal minority of sociopaths. But what if all trolls aren’t born trolls? What if they are ordinary people like you and me?
Morrison says his anti‑trolling bill is a top priority if he’s re‑elected – this is why it won’t work
A psychologist who has been researching internet trolling for seven years explains why people troll.
Online trolling used to be funny, but now the term refers to something far more sinister
Some people still think “trolling” refers to harmless fun. If we want to reduce abusive online behaviour, let’s start by getting our definitions right.
I investigated millions of tweets from the Kremlin’s ‘troll factory’ and discovered classic propaganda techniques reimagined for the social media age
Tailored messaging, repeated exposure, and false grassroots campaigns are classic propaganda techniques, now used widely by state-back trolls.
Women troll on dating apps just as often as men
If you’re looking for love on a dating app then beware the trolls - and consider upgrading to a paid service to get away from them.
How empathy can make or break a troll
Trolls tend to know the impact they’ll have, but don’t seem to care. So, how do we use our new findings to help stop this seemingly pointless, harmful behaviour?
Trolling feels like a new phenomenon. But it existed long before the internet
From Beowulf to Paul Keating, trolling has a long history. Social media, however, and Donald Trump, have taken things next level.
‘Don’t feed the trolls’ really is good advice – here’s the evidence
A new study suggests that the pleasure of getting an angry reaction is the biggest predictor of online trolling behaviour – meaning that the best way to fight back is just to ignore them.
Astroturfing the climate wars: five ways to spot a troll
With online debate flaring around the release of the IPCC’s fifth assessment report, it’s time to go deep inside the climate wars - behind the trenches - to examine the psychological warfare and the techniques…
Secondary Results
