Troll
Aleks Krotoski asks why only the malicious breed of troll seems to thrive online in the internet of the modern day.
In the early days of the internet, trolls were nothing to fear. Comedians, tricksters, harmless pranksters ready to waste a little time or pounce on a typo. Some people enjoyed a bit of provocation to spark some spirited debate. You had flamers and griefers, but in general communities were good at booting out malicious actors, while leaving the trickers to their fun.
But in 2021, things are very different. In the past, a random troll post on 4Chan would quickly sink into obscurity. Now, one proved the start of the QAnon movement that lead to an attempted coup in Washington DC.
Malicious trolls are now the dominant type across our shared internet spaces, their numbers are rising, and their influence spreading both online and off, causing harm to both individuals and wider society.
Aleks Krotoski explores troll evolution, finding out why maliciousness became an evolutionary advantage in the digital space, and asking what happens when being a troll is becoming the new normal.
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Ryan Broderick
is a freelance writer who writes the Garbage Day newsletter about web culture and technology.
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He tells us about what he learned when covering the emergence and rise of QAnon, from the first posts on 4Chan, to the steps of the US Capitol.
Lucien Greaves
Photo credit: Ada King
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Lucien Greaves is the most prominent and outspoken contemporary Satanist in the world.Ìý As spokesperson for The Satanic Temple, Greaves has gained international attention as an advocate for religious liberty and the voice of the Satanic Reformation. He has delivered lectures at Universities and colleges nationwide, and has been a featured speaker at conferences for American Atheists, the American Humanist Association, the Secular Student Alliance, and many others. Greaves has been featured in national media outlets includingÌý MSNBC, NPR, Huffington Post Live, CNN, Harper’s Monthly, Newsweek, Fox News, Vice, Salon, Rolling Stone, and many more. Greaves famously made two appearances on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News program where the ensuing debates were overwhelmingly adjudged in Greaves’s favor.Ìý
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He speaks to us about how theatrical, shocking protest can be used for good - so long as there is authenticity and strong ideas at the core.
Darren Linvill
is an associate professor in the department of Communication at Clemson University and lead researcher in the Clemson University Media Forensics Hub. He studies misinformation and disinformation on social media, focusing on the work of state actors.
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He tells us about foreign professional trolls, and how they very different from the typical troll we are all used to.
Evita March
Dr Evita March is a senior lecturer and researcher of psychology at Federation University Australia. Her research interests include interpersonal relationships, cyberpsychology and personality; specifically, personality traits that predict perpetration of online antisocial behaviours. Her work on predicting the personality traits and motivations of Internet ‘trolls’ was an Australian first study, and she has received both national and international recognition for her research on Cyber Hate.
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She tells us about the evolution of the term troll, and how malicious trolling behaviour is on the rise.
Ken McCarthy
is the most beloved troll on the internet. His most famous character Ken M, pops up in comment sections and across social media to undercut toxicity with belly laughter.
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He tells us about how he began his bewildering but wholesome trolling in yahoo comment sections, and how a little bit of discord in the right hands, could do some good in the world.
Broadcasts
- Mon 1 Mar 2021 16:30Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4
- Sun 15 May 2022 21:30Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4
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The Digital Human
Aleks Krotoski explores the digital world
