Since its advent, people all over the world have appreciated and praised the invention of the internet for the world of possibilities it brings, but as with all good things, there are those who will stop at nothing to abuse its use.
The internet provides opportunities for trading, social networking, online shopping, online banking, and the like, but unsurprisingly, mischievous elements have gone to great lengths to ensure that the list also infamously includes trolling, an activity that discredits and demarkets individuals or even institutions.
According to the Cambridge dictionary, trolling is the act of leaving an insulting message on the internet in order to annoy someone. A troll is a person who does this.
As simple as trolling may sound, it leaves many who are targeted depressed and even wanting to take their own lives.
And not only depression and suicidal thoughts, many more people who are trolled online are known to have deactivated their social media accounts just to escape the “claws” of haters and keyboard warriors.
Indeed, trolls are keyboard warriors who make abusive or inflammatory posts on the internet and sometimes conceal their identities while at it. In fact, as keyboard warriors, some trolls are known to have created fake social media accounts that are tailored only for their devious scheme.
Internet trolling, whether it is by a person of repute or not, is on the rise. Trolls prowl the internet for victims and are taking no prisoners as they make incendiary remarks that make the lives of millions of Nigerians a living hell.
And as always with trolling, Nigerians find it very hard to resist its worrying allure.
So, by and large, as long as an internet user holds a different opinion on a topic, trolling would surely always be weaponized and used for settling a score.
Currently in Nigeria, there has been an increase in internet trolling between the supporters of Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, and opponents of the former Lagos State Governor over the August 1 nationwide hardship protest.
“I know that some people will also call it freedom of speech. But what manner of freedom could that be that causes other people nightmares and pains and even makes those affected to lose their self-esteem”
Some human rights activists and youths in Nigeria had called for protests to air their grievances over the removal of subsidy on petroleum products, soaring costs of living in the country and other “unfriendly” policies of the government, but were met with harsh words on the internet by those who resisted them.
Tinubu is being trolled and criticised by his opponents for his alleged bungling of the economy and poor handling of other matters of national importance, but the President’s supporters have been responding in kind to the barrages.
Right now on the internet, there is tit-for-tat trolling in the polity. It is now eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. And interestingly, none of the feuding parties, those who are pro- and anti-Tinubu, is willing to blink first.
Trolling is undeniably a part of the reasons why the President also said that he does not frequent the Internet. And with the way insults are still flying left, right and centre there, he is not about to become an internet convert anytime soon.
Anyone who thinks that the President and his government are the only ones feeling the pinch caused by trolling should have a rethink. There is also an endless list of other notable figures that are also operating under the weight of trolling.
Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party and Tinubu’s bitter rival in the February 25, 2023 presidential election, has not been spared, either. Like the President, it seems apparent that there is no chink in Obi’s armour as he wades trolls off.
Without a doubt, one of those who have been trying to “disorientate” Obi the most on the internet is former presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
Obi’s supporters have stuck the label of troll on Omokri but the former spokesperson says he only churns facts out about the former Anambra State Governor.
Omokri claims that Obi did not caution his supporters, the Obidients, when they allegedly trolled his little daughter by making unprintable remarks about her. He therefore refuses to “forgive and forget” what he says is an affront to his family.
He also vowed that the former Anambra State Governor will never become President.
Celebrities also come into the unenviable circle of those who are trolled on the internet. For some unknown reasons, some fans take pleasure in trolling their favourite celebrities – even when they are innocent.
The “pitiable” story of Alexandra Asogwa, better known as Alex Unusual, a former Big Brother Naija female housemate, readily comes to mind and can enter into the equation here.
Asogwa was still basking in the euphoria of her participation in the Big Brother house when she was accused in 2022 of having an illicit affair with another celebrity and comedian, Ayo Makun (aka AY).
Internet trolls have been relentless with their accusations since then and only this year, it was also alleged that she was pregnant with Makun’s child and responsible for the comedian’s marital breakdown.
To save herself from the internet trolls, Asogwa, in April this year, deactivated her social media accounts. She only recently in May reactivated her accounts.
Although she did not directly address the allegations when she bounced back on Instagram, Asogwa however made a video of some of the trollings she endured over AY’s marriage crash, promising that she was unfazed.
A public affairs analyst, Damion Ugorji, told The Point that internet trolling is real and should be categorized as cyberbullying.
He was of the view that trolling could make a person lose his or her self-esteem and must not be seen to be fun or a demonstration of one’s freedom of speech.
Ugorji also said that the regulation of social media was long overdue.
“Unfortunately, internet trolling is real and it is sad that the situation has not been addressed.
“It should be categorized as cyberbullying, or what else can we liken those keyboard warriors to be?
“And the time has come for those who troll others on the internet to be punished. Some people think it is fun. They are missing it and should be corrected.
“I know that some people will also call it freedom of speech. But what manner of freedom could that be that causes other people nightmares and pains and even makes those affected to lose their self-esteem.
“That is why I support the regulation of social media. Until we bring some control to the activities of people on social media, we will continue to see trollings going on unchecked on social media.”
A political analyst, Kizito Opara, on his own part said that trolling should be included in Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act 2015.
Opara also said he has stopped making contributions to online political platforms because of the trolling he had to deal with.
“We have the 2015 Cybercrimes Act in Nigeria that regulates most of the activities people engage in on the internet and trolling is not one of them.
“If it is, I don’t think it was properly emphasised.
“Yes, we know that defamation, stalking and the rest of them are included in the Act, but they should have also categorically mentioned internet trolling, too, in the Act.
“Take me for instance. There was a time I used to join political discussions on social media. But I realised that in some of those discussions, even when I make great contributions or constructively criticise others, some people there will mercilessly troll me for days on end.
“They would call me all manner of names and say that I was a useless fellow. But I simply ignore them.
“There actions have made me stop making comments on political platforms on social media. My mental health is very important to me.”
In addition, Opara said the President and Obi are examples of people who have thick skins and who would not be affected by trollings. He said he wished he could be like the two men.
