Definition
A user who intentionally provokes hostility or confusion online. A troll may make valid points, but generally does so with the intention to irritate.
Background
Content moderators regularly review posts, comments, messages, and other types of content to assess whether they adhere to the community standards and guidelines. This involves discerning whether a piece of content is harmful, offensive, misleading, or designed to provoke others unnecessarily.
Moderators look for patterns that signify troll-like behavior. This might include repeated posting of inflammatory content, engagement in arguments or disruptive discussions without genuine engagement, and attempts to derail conversations. It is important to distinguish between someone who might simply be having a bad day or a heated moment from users who consistently engage in troll behavior.
Trolls may conduct Online Harassment, and may use Sock Puppet accounts to amplify their disruption.
Resources
- What Is Trolling on Social Media? (Social Media Victims Law Center)
- The psychology of internet trolling and why they are everywhere
Example Rule
Trolling and other forms of disruptive behavior that undermine respectful communication and engagement is prohibited.
Trolling includes, but is not limited to:
- Posting content or replies with the intent to provoke, annoy, or upset other members without contributing constructively to the conversation.
- Repeatedly targeting individual members or groups with derogatory comments, insults, or other forms of personal attack.
- Engaging in behaviors that deliberately derail or hijack threads and discussions away from their intended topics or purposes.
Discussion
Discuss this label in the Troll forum.
