The New York Times writes how internet trolls have won, and there’s not much we can do about it.
Case in point: the right-wing conspiracy site Infowars. For years, the site distributed false information that inspired internet trolls to harass people who were close to victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting. This week, after much hemming and hawing about whether to get involved, some giant tech firms banned content from Infowars. (Twitter did not, after determining Infowars had not violated its policies.)
What does that show us? That you as an internet user have little power over content you find offensive or harmful online. It’s the tech companies that hold the cards.
Maybe social networks should have decency laws like broadcasts radio and television do. That will only stop the most vitriolic of trolls, but at least people will be able to visit sites like Twitter without getting a flood of harassing DMs.
Check It Out: Internet Trolls Have Won. Time to Give Up
I must say that graphic is what I visualize when I think of a blog troll, though some of them wear a ushanka.
Haha, I specifically searched for “neckbeard troll”
When I encounter, or am targeted by, a Troll I block them. End of story., Not sure how they’ve “won”.
Exactly, block them and report them if they violate TOS.
In a free society, there is no right to ‘not be offended’ as that is about the most subjective thing on earth. Imposing our own tastes and preferences on others is not respecting their freedom, and taken too far, is known as tyranny. Also: there’s this little thing called a ‘block’ button. All of the web can be curated by we ourselves. We cannot possibly be this entitled, infantile, or lazy.