The internet may make it easier to hide behind anonymity, but trolls are essentially the same as playground bullies, say experts. According to psychiatrists, there is no substantial difference between an abusive person offline and an internet troll, and the best thing to do is to ignore them as far as possible.
A psychiatrist and Fortis Healthcare’s director of mental health, Dr. Samir Parikh says: “Bullying is bullying. Those who bully in life will do the same in the virtual world. Physical anonymity makes them feel safer.”
All perpetrators want to exert control and make their victim helpless, so you should “cut it off”, suggests Dr. Achal Bhagat, senior consultant (psychiatry) at Apollo Hospitals.
“Labelling abuse as abuse is very important because if you don’t say ‘this is not acceptable’, the perpetrator thinks he/she is getting away with it,” says Dr. Bhagat.
So, try to avoid replying to trolls.
But, if it gets too much, let them know what they are saying is abusive and then stop replying.
“You should ignore what can be ignored, respond to what needs explanation, stand up for yourself and inform authority,” says Dr. Parikh.
