Before the Internet, people used to bicker with each other. They would badmouth the individuals in discussion for sadistic pleasures. During family functions, cunning relatives who act as frenemies are often seen gossiping. This low-key social behavior is antithetical to the goodwill of the social circle.
Time has changed. With that, the practice of casting aspersions on others and forming conspiracy theories has moved online. Today, people can act anonymously. They can create fake online personas. Additionally, they use bots to express their views on a particular video, person, or event. This is often done to settle scores. They are known as the trollers. Trolls can target individuals, political parties, celebrities, ordinary people, or any personal enemy by name-calling and making false accusations. This is a disturbing form of online social gossip.
The targeted person obviously loses their mental peace over the whole matter. Anxiety, depression, and frustration arise due to online trolling and bullying activities. Lack of any regular mechanisms to curb online bullying and a lenient cyber framework or regulatory body has given scope for the perpetrators to get away easily. Many hurl death threats and rape threats at the victims online- it shows how deplorable our society has become over the years.
The internet has become a place of hatred. People target minority community members, opposition leaders, and celebrities on social media as trolls. They also target government ministers, the Prime Minister, and the president. A person’s image can be destroyed in seconds through trolling.
To counter these social ills, one must be thick-skinned and unbothered by trolls’ tone or content. The trolls are cowards who primarily act behind the safety of a keyboard, as anonymous users. The cyber police should be vigilant in tracking these culprits and bringing them to justice under IT laws.
Bewakoof: It’s a term invented for the people who believe in everything said on the Internet and social media. Everyone must avoid rumor-mongers. They should thoroughly examine the facts before reaching any conclusion. This approach keeps society in balance about the onus for trolling-related impacts. People are easily offended. They often take extreme steps when they are trolled. Therefore, trolling activity must be stopped to promote mental health.
The Witty Stride 