Content creators know all too well that internet trolls can show up anytime. These cyberbullies spend their time purposefully disrupting a creator’s content, whether it’s a live stream on Twitch, or a reel shared on Instagram. Here are expert tips on how to handle cyberbullying below.
A Statista study revealed that over 40% of people admitted that they have experienced cyberbullying with most being bullied online by a complete stranger. Realising the extreme effect internet trolls can have on the creator’s mental wellbeing, e-commerce retailer Ebuyer spoke to Dr Dennis Relojo-Howell from Psychreg and Ray Sadoun from OK Rehab to gather top tips on how to handle bullies online.
1. Understand where the behaviour comes from
Cyberbullies often bully to cover up their own low self-esteem and negative feelings about themselves, so it is important that the abused make themselves aware of this.
Ray Sadoun comments: “This means you should try not to take the criticism to heart, as it is very likely that this person is criticising most people they come across due to their self-hatred.”
Dr Dennis Relojo-Howell adds: “Find out the reason behind trolling. People have their own reasons for being rude. Perhaps they’ve had a bad day, or they’re in a hurry and think there isn’t time for manners. Perhaps they don’t even realise how rude they’ve been. You won’t know until you ask.”
2. Don’t fuel the bullies
It is easy to get drawn into an argument by trolls, but by that, the victim would only fuel the bully’s intentions.
Dennis says: “Since trolls are usually looking for a fight, reacting with an opposite approach can often catch them off guard and get them to eventually stop.”
3. Have a support system
Knowing that friends and family stand behind the victim is also a big factor. Victims often feel disheartened, and a support system can be reassuring in such situations.
Ray says: “Having friends and family members who will remind you of your positive qualities, as well as defending you, when necessary, will help you to stay strong in the face of criticism, which is much trickier to do when you are on your own.”
4. Report and block the trolls
All social platforms offer an easy option to report abuse and block the bully from your followers, so they cannot contact you any further. You may also consider reporting any abuse you see when scrolling through, to help to keep a positive and toxic free community online.
5. Take a break
Receiving abuse can be exhausting and mentally draining. For content creators, who spend a substantial amount of time on socials, taking a cyber break and going on a digital detox can be a great option.
Dr Relojo-Howell comments: “Sometimes taking a break from being online is the best way to deal with mean comments on the internet. Staying online makes it more likely that you will look at the comment repeatedly and get more upset.”
6. Seek professional help
With bullies consistently attacking online, the victim’s mental health can be affected. In such cases, it is important for the abused to seek professional help, such as support groups or therapy if needed.
Websites such as the National bullying helpline and the NSPCC offer valuable help to victims of cyberbullying.
With internet trolling being a big problem on streaming platforms, such as Twitch, Ebuyer conducted research on which streamers receive the most hate online. To find out more about Ebuyer and the study you can follow this link: https://www.ebuyer.com/blog/2022/05/who-are-the-most-trolled-twitch-streamers/
