5 tips on how to deal with trolls
If you follow me on Facebook (here) you may have seen that recently I was trolled quite seriously across all my social media pages. It was a tough experience, but it also gave me a chance to reflect on how to deal with trolls effectively and stay focused on what matters.
Sadly, as my public profile increases so does my risk of being trolled.
What I have learnt from this recent experience is that with the right tools up your sleeve, the experience can provide some valuable learnings, and unify a community of followers strengthening your brand and your overall commitment to your vision.
Before I dive into my tips on handling trolls - full disclosure! I am not a lawyer.
I do advocate seeking legal counsel if you are being trolled on social media.
Sometimes investigating legal counsel or pressing charges is the best course of action for online bullying and if you feel this you are being bullied then please seek counsel as quickly as possible.
In Australia, cyberbullying (trolling) is an offence and you can press charges.
Deciding to seek legal counsel or press charges is a personal decision and one that should be taken seriously, however, to provide some additional options I am sharing my personal tips for dealing with trolls based on my most recent experience.
1. Ignore them
If you come across a troll, one effective strategy for how to deal with trolls is to consider simply ignoring them.
Trolls are fueled by your feedback and attention—don’t let them have it!
If you spot a troll comment (and they’re easy to identify), take a quick screenshot and leave them be.
Ignoring a troll will hopefully make them move on quickly once they realise they’re not getting the attention or reaction they crave.
2. Avoid Arguments
As tough as it can be, one of the best ways to handle how to deal with trolls is to avoid engaging them in an argument.
Ask questions to check the validity of their claim or their identification, but also know when it’s time to walk away.
Simply state your facts and move forward. Leave the ball in their court. This is NOT a situation where it pays to have the last word. Usually, by the second comment, a troll will have revealed themselves, and if they haven’t, just state your position and leave it there.
Trolling can escalate quickly if a) they feel they have an audience, and b) they have an engaged opponent.
Don’t give them either, take the high road and walk away.
3. Unmask them
Trolls prefer anonymity. If you are trolled it is highly likely it will be done via a fake social media profile. Hiding behind these aliases a troll can leave their comment with a false sense of security.
The first step to dealing with a troll is to reveal them to your community and followers. Share a screen grab of their message and make sure you include their profile name.
If they change profiles, share a screen grab of that one too.
Soon the troll will feel ostracised and vulnerable as your community and followers show their support and gather around you. Unmasking these cyber bullies will also allow your followers to notify others when the troll makes an appearance on other persons profile drastically narrowing the trolls options to continue the behaviour.
In most instances, a troll will stop once you unmask them to your community.
4. Ask for more information
Trolls rarely stick to the point and often get sidetracked by unrelated events or information. They tend to attack multiple profiles at once, all in the hope of gaining attention and causing you stress. One effective method for how to deal with trolls is to ask for supporting data.
For example, in my most recent experience, the troll claimed to have been a student of mine. A quick fact check confirmed that this was not the case. Realizing they were using an alias, I questioned them to further investigate their claim on my end. They were unable to provide any further details.
Trolls don’t deal in facts, they deal in drama and emotion. Don’t be afraid to question their claims and ask for relevant data to back them up. You may find this either deters them or, at the very least, helps buffer yourself from anyone perceiving their comments as genuine feedback when your follow-up questions are also visible.
5. Report them
Trolling is a form of cyberbullying. If you spot a troll, one of the best ways to know how to deal with trolls is to report them to the social media provider (e.g., Facebook). The provider can then investigate the profile, shut it down, and in some instances, prevent the user from creating a new profile.
If your troll is going above and beyond to damage your profile or brand, it might be time to seek legal counsel. Speak to a lawyer to understand what options are available. The good news is, you do have options.
Trolling is an offense, and contrary to what some may say, it is trackable, meaning it is possible to press charges.
In most cases, the threat of legal action will send your troll running for the hills. But always consult with the police or a lawyer before going down this road, and make sure you record all comments and responses in case it ever ends up in court.
Trolling can be stressful if not handled correctly and, in some instances, can cause unnecessary damage to your brand or profile in the media.
Remember, a troll is either bored or seeking attention, so in most cases, ignoring them will prevent the situation from escalating. However, in my recent personal experience, this wasn’t the case, and I sought legal counsel and took the necessary steps to prevent the troll from continuing.
If you spot a troll, report their profile and block them. If the trolling continues, use the tips above, and if they don’t desist, consider seeking legal advice.
Trolling or online bullying of any form is not acceptable. By sharing these tips, my hope is that we all become more aware and continue to unmask the offenders, preventing them from causing harm in this way.
For more information on cyberbullying and the options you have available, I've rounded up some great sites that provide additional steps and contacts:
