Social media trolling is the act of posting inflammatory, insincere, digressive, extraneous, or off-topic messages with the intent of provoking emotional responses, manipulating others’ perception, or causing confusion or harm. Trolls can target any online platform where people can comment or interact, such as YouTube, interacting forums, chat rooms, or blogs.

There are different forms of social media trolling, such as:

Ad hominem attacks:
Attacking the person instead of the argument, such as their character, motive, or appearance3.
Off-topic remarks: Going off-topic from the subject at hand to annoy and disrupt other posters.
Refusal to acknowledge evidence:
Ignoring facts or logic that contradict their views or claims.

Straw man arguments:
Misrepresenting or distorting the opponent’s position to make it easier to attack.
Gaslighting:
Making the opponent doubt their own sanity or perception of reality by lying, denying, or contradicting.

Sealioning:
Asking endless questions or requests for evidence in a polite but insincere manner to wear down the opponent.
Griefing:
Intentionally ruining the online gaming experience for other players by cheating, harassing, or sabotaging.

Doxxing:
Publishing another person’s information, such as social security number, bank account, home address, or phone number, online, causing the victim to be physically or financially vulnerable.

Some of the best techniques to tackle social media trolling are:

Ignore them:
Trolls feed on attention and reactions. If you don’t give them what they want, they will lose interest and move on.

Block or report them: Most social media platforms have tools to block or report abusive users. This can help you avoid further contact with them and also alert the moderators to take action against them.

Don’t take it personally: Trolls often don’t care about the topic or the person they are trolling. They just want to cause drama and get a rise out of you. Don’t let them affect your self-esteem or mental health.

Fact-check them:
Trolls may use false or misleading information to support their arguments or spread disinformation. You can use reliable sources to verify their claims and expose their lies.

Use humor:
Sometimes, a witty or sarcastic response can defuse the situation and make the troll look foolish. However, be careful not to stoop to their level or escalate the conflict.

Social media trolling can affect the quality of discourse on social media by:

Distracting from the main topic:
Trolls can derail the conversation by posting irrelevant or controversial comments that divert the attention from the original issue.

Discouraging participation:
Trolls can intimidate or harass other users who may have valuable insights or opinions to share. This can reduce the diversity and quality of perspectives and information on social media.

Polarizing opinions: Trolls can inflame emotions and create hostility between different groups or individuals. This can prevent constructive dialogue and compromise and increase mistrust and resentment.

Spreading misinformation:
Trolls can disseminate false or misleading information to manipulate public opinion, influence elections, incite violence, or undermine democracy.

To handle social media trolling in Pakistan’s perspective, some possible steps are:

Educate yourself and others:
Learn how to identify and counter trolls and their tactics. Share this knowledge with your friends and family who use social media. Encourage critical thinking and media literacy among your online communities.

Support anti-trolling initiatives:
Join or support campaigns that aim to raise awareness and combat trolling on social media. For example, you can participate in #StopTrollingMePK, a movement that calls for an end to online harassment and abuse in Pakistan.

Advocate for better policies and laws: Demand that social media platforms and authorities take more responsibility and action to prevent and punish trolling on social media. Support efforts to reform existing laws or enact new ones that protect online users from trolling and other forms of cyberbullying.

Lastly, it is important to take care while using social media. It’s a two-edged sword. Therefore, it’s essential to use it according to technology & social norms.