What do We Actually Know about Internet Trolls?
Is their Vandalism as Detrimental as We Think?
A common type of person we hear about in online communities is a troll. But how much do we actually know about them really? Pnina Shachaf and Noriko Hara sought to learn more about the motives and behaviors of online trolls in their study, “Beyond Vandalism: Wikipedia Trolls”, using Wikipedia as their examination site. Another type of online menace, a hacker, has received attention, and this study helped show how similar hackers and trolls are, and if they were related in any way. Sysops (people who fight online vandalism) from Wikipedia were interviewed and asked to give stories of trolls they knew. From the gathered data, Shachaf and Hara studied the four most mentioned trolls, comparing their behaviors and motivations to the other trolls and your average hacker (Shacaf and Hara).
Hackers can be divided into three main categories: those that are criminally-based, attention-seeking/enjoyment-based, or ideology based, attempting to make a political statement. After this study, it was concluded that trolls fall under the category of being an attention seeking, enjoyment-based hacker, referred to as a “script kiddie” by Shachaf and Hara. It was decided that trolls are a type of hacker because they share similar motivations for their actions, including curiosity, the thrill of rule breaking, revenge, power, the gaining of information, and possible admiration (Shachaf and Hara).
Though this study gives a lot of unknown information on trolls, one factor I have an issue with is the fact the results were based solely off the explanations of Wikipedia’s sysops. Shachaf and Hara didn't get in touch with the actual trolls themselves, and this could make it so the conclusion isn't totally on point. You need both sides of every story to draw the most accurate conclusions. Even those conducting the study knew this was an issue, saying, “due to the small sample size…transferability of findings is limited” (Sharchaf and Hara). Due to the lack of variety in their sources the information may not be completely reliable. An actual troll may say that their motivations are totally different than the one’s mentioned above, but until further studies are made, it will not be known for certain.
Shachaf’s and Hara’s study ties into a previous article I read by Marshall Poe about how Wikipedia, titled “The Hive”. This article contradicts the stereotype that vandalism of trolls completely ruins Wikipedia’s credibility. Most people find the openness of networks to be a recipe for disaster, basically giving vandals the “come hither” look, but it’s quite the opposite.
“The primary reason that these users (editors) contribute to the site is their desire to identify and publish facts about the world.”
Poe, Shacaf, and Hara all explain how though there is no feasible incentive for the editors, they are driven to edit and fix changes made by vandals due to their drive to share the truth with the world. In any network community there is always going to be vandals, trolls, and hackers that don’t want to cooperate, but the determination of those countering them will overpower it.