In short:
Trolling is when someone posts or comments online to ‘bait’ people, which means deliberately provoking an argument or emotional reaction. In some cases they say things they don’t even believe, just to cause drama. In other cases, they may not agree with the views of another person or group online, so they try to discredit, humiliate or punish them. This may include online hate – personal attacks that target someone because of their race, culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability. The troll may also encourage mob mentality, urging others to join in the attack so it becomes a pile on.
Trolls often post under a fake name or anonymously, so they can say things without being held responsible. This can make them feel more powerful and less cautious than they would be if they were talking to someone ‘IRL’ or in person. This makes it difficult to identify who actually left the post or comment.
Trolls also often try to downplay the impact of their behaviour, claiming anyone who’s upset by their posts or comments is overreacting. They may say it was just a joke, or the person who they targeted needs to toughen up. This can make the person who was trolled feel even worse.
Research1 shows that some young people may frame potentially harmful online behaviours as ‘light hearted’ or ‘fun’.
‘I did have like an alt[ernate] TikTok, and Twitter account. It’s just soccer opinions, a bit of trolling. I kind of take the mickey a bit. Just get people angry, [to] get a bit of a laugh out of it ... It’s pretty funny to get them upset.’ – Ned, 17.
1 Find out more in our latest research, Being a young man online.
Resist the urge to respond – it’s not possible to reason with a troll. As tempting as it may be, getting involved in an online argument just gives them the reaction they want, so they are likely to step up the attack.
Online services and platforms have a responsibility to ensure people can use them safely. If the trolling is starting to feel harmful, collect evidence so you have proof – this can include screenshots or recordings of the abusive comments. Then you can report and block the troll in-app – you can find how to do this on common platforms in The eSafety Guide. If they don’t help and your experience meets the legal threshold of serious cyberbullying (for under 18s) or adult cyber abuse (for 18+), you can make a report to eSafety and we will help remove the harmful content.
If you’re feeling bad about what’s been happening while you’re online, make sure to talk about it with someone you trust. You could show a close friend or family member this information and ask them to help you decide what to do if you’re being trolled. You could also contact Kids Helpline (for 5 to 25 year-olds) or another confidential counselling or support service – they have people who are ready to listen and help.
Watch this video to find out what to do and how to get help if you are being trolled online.
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‘I’m being trolled, what should I do?’ Tell an adult you trust. Resist the urge to respond. It’s likely to make things worse. Collect evidence. Save screenshots, recordings and URLs. Report and block them in-app. No response from the app after 48 hours? Report to esafety.gov.au. Get support and info at esafety.gov.au |
Don’t feed the trolls. Resist the urge to respond – it’s likely to make things worse.
Collect evidence, report and block. The eSafety Guide has information about how to do this on different online platforms. If they don’t help and your experience meets the legal threshold of serious cyberbullying (for under 18s) or adult cyber abuse (for 18+), you can make a report to eSafety and we will help remove the harmful content.
Get more help. If the trolling is still really concerning you or you’re feeling a little out of your depth, talk to someone you trust like a close friend or family member, or Kids Helpline (for 5 to 25 year-olds) or another confidential counselling or support service.
Last updated: 13/06/2024
