The Dark Web: How Trolling Has Peaked in the Last 18 Months

Online trolling is a massive issue that affects so many, and after over a year mainly spent in lockdown, those numbers are rising. 

The internet—what would we do without it? It has expanded our knowledge and reach immeasurably, opening doors and minds for the better. But we don't need to tell you that there's a dark side to the internet. It can bring out the worst in people; like a cloak for those who wish to remain unseen, it presents them with the opportunity to say and do things they wouldn't in real life. At the root of this problem is trolling and cyberbullying. 

Sure, many of us use the internet for good—to speak to friends and family around the globe, connect with our communities, or even for perfecting that sourdough recipe. However, for those who are on the receiving end of trolling and online abuse, it can feel like the whole world is against you. Anyone and anything can be a victim of trolling – both individuals, organisations, groups, and businesses. Its intensity has even prompted the web's inventor, Sir Tim Berners, to write an essay entitled Why the Web Isn't Working for Women and Girls to explore how and why changes need to be made; and fast. 

Experts say there are varying types of 'troll' lurking on the web, but Dr. Vijayeta Sinh, a clinical psychologist based in New York, perfectly sums it up with her definition of internet trolling. It 'includes following people online and communicating and responding to them in a disruptive, hostile, and at times vengeful manner, often intending to upset or cause a negative reaction or response in the other.' Online harassment isn't yet defined in UK law, but recognised behaviour includes offensive, abusive, violent, threatening, racist or explicit online content. For behaviour to constitute harassment, it must take place on at least two occasions. It can occur on multiple platforms, including email, instant messaging, social media sites, blogs, and chat rooms. And because online content can go viral very quickly, it is easy for harassment to escalate. You may think that you are being harassed and discriminated against because of, for example, a disability, your race, religion, transgender identity or sexual orientation. You can report the harassment to the police as a hate incident or crime. This is against the law under the Equality Act 2010.

As such, it's easy to conclude, as more and more of us have spent time indoors over the last year and a half, that reports of online abuse and trolling have spiked, as confirmed by police, cybersecurity firms, and independent charities. Increased internet use and screen time mean that online abuse is more frequent, and its effects can even be even harder to escape. 

Picture a troll, and you likely imagine a middle-aged man sitting in his parent's basement with the lights off, staring bleary-eyed into the screen as he types furiously on his keyboard. Right? In reality, a troll can be anyone—any sex, any gender, any age, someone you don't know, or even someone you do. It is also estimated that half of online abuse is carried out by women. 

In 2016, British think-tank Demos studied 213,000 aggressive tweets over a 23-day period; it found that half of those tweets came from women, 40% from men, and the remaining 10% were sent by organisations or users where gender could not be determined.

However, should this come as a surprise? Traditionally, society has conditioned women not openly to show their anger. But aggression is a part of human nature and is sure to manifest in some way. After all, there’s a lot to be angry about. But from gossip columns spreading rumours about often female celebrities to talking behind the backs of others, passive-aggressive behaviour amongst women has not only been normalised, but actively encouraged. It's little wonder, then, that it finds its way onto the internet and social media platforms. 

Indeed, social media is rife with trolling, with many choosing to disappear from their accounts to break free from the abuse. One such person is author and presenter Dawn O'Porter, who we previously interviewed for our April 2020 issue. When we asked her why she thinks online trolling continues to be an issue, she said, 'People are pissed off and resent people they consider to have more. And it's really easy to vent your anger to a Twitter handle than a real person. It's all so boring; I'm so over it. Leaving Twitter was like breaking up with the worst boyfriend. My life is better. Sure, I know nothing about what's happening. But that's also nice.' 

For O'Porter, removing herself from the situation was the answer—but for others, it may not be. We need to ask ourselves how we can help victims of online abuse, combat trolling as a whole, and support women to feel more empowered in themselves, so they don't feel the need to act out against others. Unfortunately, a Mean Girls-inspired group therapy session isn't on the cards—but what can be done? 

For victims, Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), an NGO that has produced a practical guide for dealing with trolls called Don't Feed the Trolls, has this advice. 'Trolls get pleasure from upsetting those they target with abuse, so if their victim responds, it only encourages them to continue.' It may be hard, but Ahmed also advises not to post online that you're being targeted, as this may encourage more trolls to direct vitriol in your direction if they see you as a target. After taking screenshots and documenting any of the abuse, Ahmed also advises immediately blocking any troll accounts. If the abuse you receive makes you feel at threat or is otherwise unlawful, report it to the social media platform and the police. 

In 2018, Labour MP Jess Phillips stated that trolls who send abusive messages should no longer get to keep their anonymity online, after revealing she once received 600 rape threats in a single night. Speaking at Cheltenham's Science Festival, Phillips said, 'Where it does worry me, and I think we have to do something about, is when it affects our democracy. I personally don't think people should be allowed to be completely anonymous online anymore.

'I don't mind if people appear anonymous online for all sorts of really reasonable reasons,' she added, after which she explained a 'reasonable reason' could be an anonymous whistleblower speaking out against injustice or a criminal offence.

In 2018 at the G7 summit in Canada, Teresa May, who was the UK Prime Minister at the time, called for internet firms to treat online violence against women more seriously. 'Online violence against women and girls should not be separated from offline violence,' she said. 

Others believe that more information should be required to set up social media profiles, as this could deter would-be trolls. Although Scotland Yard reportedly invested £1.7 million into targeting online hate crimes in 2016, it seems the law hasn't had a chance to keep up with how big social media has become. 

Keita Masai from the Department of Psychology of Otemon Gakuin University in Japan notes a direct correlation between loneliness and aggression in connection with internet trolling, which also explains why cases have peaked during lockdown, meaning those responsible for this abuse may themselves be suffering. 

Ultimately, more investment needs to be made in mental health services, and more needs to be done to help women who have long been suppressed feel empowered and valued. The answer, it seems, is equality, inclusively, and understanding—that's the reality we'd like to live in.