Disruptive online communication: How asymmetric trolling-like response strategies steer conversation off the track

Abstract

Internet trolling, a form of antisocial online behavior, is a serious problem plaguing social media. Skillful trolls can lure entire communities into degenerative and polarized discussions that continue endlessly. From analysis of data gathered in accordance with established classifications of trolling-like behavior, the paper presents a conversation analysis of trolling-like interaction strategies that disrupt online discussions. The authors argue that troll-like users exploit other users’ desire for common grounding – i.e., joint maintenance of mutual understanding and seeking of conversational closure – by responding asymmetrically. Their responses to others deviate from expectations for typical paired actions in turn-taking. These asymmetries, described through examples of three such behaviors – ignoring, mismatching, and challenging – lead to dissatisfactory interactions, in that they subvert other users’ desire for clarification and explanation of contra-normative social behavior. By avoiding clarifications, troll-like users easily capture unsuspecting users’ attention and manage to prolong futile conversations interminably. Through the analysis, the paper connects trolling-like asymmetric response strategies with concrete data and addresses the implications of this nonconformist behavior for common grounding in social-media venues.

The Impact of Fake News on Traveling and Antisocial Behavior in Online Communities: Overview

“…For illustration, the gap-filling article is [14] and fills an investigative crevice by collecting and explaining a huge dataset of more than 40 million tweets related to COVID-19. The examination of collected information that agrees with the built-up classifications of trolling-like behavior [15] presents a conversational examination of trolling-like collaboration techniques that disturb online discourses. Since clients in these communities regularly stay in the standard and periphery stages, reserved behavior can carry over to most stages.…”

Conflict Prevention in Internet during Spread of Coronavirus Infection (Survey Results)

“…78]. Отметим, что описанию конфликтных ситуаций, как и наблюдению за тактиками, используемыми коммуникантами с целью не допустить вовлечение в конфликтную ситуацию, посвящен ряд работ отечественных и зарубежных ученых (см., в частности: [Кронгауз, 2019;Дзараева и др., 2017;Тармаева и др., 2020;Gjerazi, 2023;Paakki et al, 2021]).…”

Trolling as a Disruptive Tool for Human Rights Violations: An Exploration of the Challenges Faced by Performance Artists

“…Finally, they discuss challenges in classifying certain cases along with potential solutions. In a similar vein, Paakki et al (2021) investigated how skilled trolls disrupt online discussions by exploiting users' desire for common grounding which leads to polarized and degenerative conversations. By analyzing data and identifying three key trolling-like behaviours -ignoring, mismatching, and challenging -the authors in their research paper demonstrate how these asymmetric response strategies undermine typical turn-taking expectations and hinder clarification efforts.…”

“…These days, trolling has become a communal podium for online users to claim and harass anyone without any prior conscience. It has been exposed as the most problematic and commonplace form of antisocial online behaviour plaguing social media (Paakki et al, 2021). It plays a dominant and significant role in criticizing and poking a country's politics, economy, and even legislation employing naï ve and incoherent comments where people hide their true nature (Donath, 1999).…”