It’s Time for More Lolz, NOT Trolls

Embrace Positivity Online

Have you ever been tweeting, Facebooking, or Tumbling your life away, only to be met with a nasty comment from a stranger? Or perhaps you’re a little guilty of sending out mean comments yourself? Our research shows that one in ten of you have been involved in such actions on social media.

The term for sending out this type of mean comment is “trolling.” At Vinspired, we’re committed to turning the tide against trolls with our program that champions social good by highlighting positive causes online. Check out the Lolz NOT Trolls app to learn how to stay positive online. You might even win an iPad mini!

Who Gets Trolled?

Worryingly, our research has uncovered that a quarter of young people face regular trolling attacks. One in three recipients of these derogatory messages have found them devastating, often resulting in a loss of confidence.

Interestingly, one in ten young people have admitted to trolling themselves by sending negative or abusive messages to acquaintances or even celebrities.

Why Do People Become Trolls?

Although 60% of 14-18-year-olds believe that trolling is wrong, a shocking 23% do it because they think it’s funny. Another 29% engage in trolling because their friends do it too, while a staggering 49% believe it’s okay to say things online that they would never say in person.

Trolling victims strongly disagree with the notion that online insults are less damaging than face-to-face interactions. In fact, 17% of young people assert that online trolling is worse than in-person bullying.

Where Do People Get Trolled?

Our study reveals that Facebook is the most common platform for trolling, with 45% of victims experiencing abusive messages on their own walls. Additionally, 28% have been targeted with slurs posted on someone else’s wall.

How Do We Stop Trolling?

Educate yourself on the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of online behavior by visiting the Do Something Facebook page. Over the coming weeks, we’ll continue to report on more Lolz and Trolls. In the meantime, check out our infographic for a broader perspective.

For more insights, you can also explore our articles on It’s time for more Lolz NOT Trolls, vInspired Live launches the #ChangeSomething campaign, and Bad news for young people: re-thinking negative perceptions.