Abstract
The literature on trolling has viewed trolling as discrete instances of transgression undertaken by antagonistic individuals. We identify three main issues with current theorizations: diffuse definitions of “trolling,” blurred boundaries between trolling and other online anti-social behaviors, and the context dependency of trolling. To address these unresolved issues, we adopt a practice-based theoretical approach. Informed by this approach, we analyze trolling behaviors not as products of individuals' attitudes, values, and decisions, but rather as behaviors embedded within and occurring as part of social practices. Specifically, we conduct a practice-based theoretical analysis in a multi-site exploratory study involving online archival research and in-depth interviews with online community members. Based on this analysis, we propose that trolling be conceived as a constellation of three social practices: learning, assimilating, and transgressing. Also, we find that practices of trolling transgression can have a dual pro-social and anti-social impact in online communities.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 15-26 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | The Information Society |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Keywords
- Anti-social behavior
- Community management
- Online communities
- Online trolling
- Practice theory
- Social media
Cite this
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Trolling in online communities : a practice-based theoretical perspective. / Cruz, Angela Gracia B.; Seo, Yuri; Rex, Mathew.
In: The Information Society, Vol. 34, No. 1, 2018, p. 15-26.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Trolling in online communities
T2 - a practice-based theoretical perspective
AU - Cruz, Angela Gracia B.
AU - Seo, Yuri
AU - Rex, Mathew
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - The literature on trolling has viewed trolling as discrete instances of transgression undertaken by antagonistic individuals. We identify three main issues with current theorizations: diffuse definitions of “trolling,” blurred boundaries between trolling and other online anti-social behaviors, and the context dependency of trolling. To address these unresolved issues, we adopt a practice-based theoretical approach. Informed by this approach, we analyze trolling behaviors not as products of individuals' attitudes, values, and decisions, but rather as behaviors embedded within and occurring as part of social practices. Specifically, we conduct a practice-based theoretical analysis in a multi-site exploratory study involving online archival research and in-depth interviews with online community members. Based on this analysis, we propose that trolling be conceived as a constellation of three social practices: learning, assimilating, and transgressing. Also, we find that practices of trolling transgression can have a dual pro-social and anti-social impact in online communities.
AB - The literature on trolling has viewed trolling as discrete instances of transgression undertaken by antagonistic individuals. We identify three main issues with current theorizations: diffuse definitions of “trolling,” blurred boundaries between trolling and other online anti-social behaviors, and the context dependency of trolling. To address these unresolved issues, we adopt a practice-based theoretical approach. Informed by this approach, we analyze trolling behaviors not as products of individuals' attitudes, values, and decisions, but rather as behaviors embedded within and occurring as part of social practices. Specifically, we conduct a practice-based theoretical analysis in a multi-site exploratory study involving online archival research and in-depth interviews with online community members. Based on this analysis, we propose that trolling be conceived as a constellation of three social practices: learning, assimilating, and transgressing. Also, we find that practices of trolling transgression can have a dual pro-social and anti-social impact in online communities.
KW - Anti-social behavior
KW - Community management
KW - Online communities
KW - Online trolling
KW - Practice theory
KW - Social media
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85039149197&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/01972243.2017.1391909
DO - 10.1080/01972243.2017.1391909
M3 - Article
VL - 34
SP - 15
EP - 26
JO - The Information Society
JF - The Information Society
SN - 0197-2243
IS - 1
ER -