Key Takeaways:
– Political ‘trolls’ have increased their activity during the election but have since dwindled.
– These individuals aim to harass and provoke others online with their offensive comments.
– It is hypothesized that these trolls were hired by left-wing political entities.
– With Trump’s victory and the decline in leftist campaign funds, the number of trolls has reduced sharply.
As President Trump begins his second presidential term, significant changes are visible not just domestically, but globally too. Even the aggressive provocateurs are downplaying their attitudes, stating they didn’t genuinely mean their previous assertions.
Trump’s Cabinet Decisions
President Trump is actively making cabinet selections, deciding who will hold the reins of the government for his term. Alongside these changes, the departure of several key players in the administration is taking place with surprising speed.
The Troll Phenomenon
However, the changes extend beyond the realms of high office. In the online world, a strange phenomenon was occurring leading up to the election, especially on websites like WND. Regular commenters and a handful of ‘trolls’ – individuals who deliberately engage in offensive behavior to provoke others- were a typical sight.
However, the couple of months leading to the elections saw a noticeable surge in the number of these trolls. They’d leave disparaging comments on a range of articles, disregarding their subject matter. Their shared aim seemed to be to downplay or laugh off the published works, usually targeting Trump and conservative ideals in particular.
The Growth of Trolls
The increase in troll activity on sites like WND was sudden and exponential, starting from just a few regulars to an avalanche of new pseudonyms. Their comments contained a unifying theme of attributing ‘stupidity’ to the article readers, writers, and their faith. This trend has provoked curiosity as to why these trolls would come out in significant numbers so close to the election?
Who are These Trolls?
Certain readers suggested that these trolls were likely to be hired professionals, paid to generate thousands of comments across several articles. This theory seems credible, considering the suddenly high number of online provocateurs that seemed to have an abundance of free time to spend on the activity.
On the other hand, studies have shown that these trolls are often individuals who enjoy causing distress to others. This sadistic glee dictates their online behavior, deliberately attempting to provoke, upset, and harm others.
What Happened to the Trolls?
Interestingly, since Trump’s re-election and the decline in left-wing campaign funds, the new trolls have mysteriously vanished. The regular ‘snarkers’ still pop up because, as we know, everyone needs a hobby.
Conclusion
While these trolls may have negatively impacted the reader environment, they did inadvertently increase the number of comments and replies. This then resulted in more page views translating into higher advertisement revenues for sites like WND. With their sudden disappearance, there’s a freshness in the air. Only time will tell if this is a permanent change or if paid trolling will emerge again in the future.