"An internet troll is someone who posts hateful or very provocative comments to get an angry reaction," Dr Amelia Kleijn told Fin24.Kleijn is an independent social worker and researcher in private practice who has extensive experience in dealing with disturbed individuals.
While there is little consensus on the exact definition of an internet troll, it is widely accepted that those who go beyond the line of fair comment to bully people online can be classified as trolls.
"Of all personality measures, sadism showed the most robust associations with trolling and, importantly, the relationship was specific to trolling behaviour. Enjoyment of other online activities, such as chatting and debating, was unrelated to sadism. Thus cyber-trolling appears to be an internet manifestation of everyday sadism," suggests the Dark Triad of Personality paper by Canadian researchers Erin E Buckelsa, Paul D Trapnellb and Delroy L Paulhusc.
Social media growth
"Trolls' deliberately inflammatory comments, hidden behind false identities, can be extremely hurtful and disruptive for the person or group receiving their vitriol and that is what makes them hateful: Their comments," said Kleijn.
The explosion of social media growth has opened the door for people to use the medium to advance a particular agenda and internet trolls often patrol their favoured topic to push their opinion.
"A troll can be anyone who is purposefully disruptive to a conversation - this can fit with a personality type that just likes to cause trouble. Or it can actually be a paid role - where trolls are paid to influence particular conversations," social media consultant for Afrosocialmedia Samantha Fleming told Fin24.
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