Last night a met my first troll, and not the kind that hides in caves.
I had always wondered what it would feel like to be on the receiving end of online negativity.
On my blog and all my social media I post upbeat and positive posts about the latest fashion, beauty and lifestyle and things that I hope people will like.
Needless to say I instantly removed the comments and blocked the offending troll but it got me thinking about social media and how it can be used for good and bad.
When I see negative comments or posts by people it makes me sad. Personally I wouldn’t hang my dirty laundry online for everyone to see and if I’m having a not so great day, I like to post positive things to uplift myself and hopefully others too.
The internet is an easy tool to use for bullying and putting people down in a way that wouldn’t happen in real life. I woudn’t go up to someone in the street and say ‘ew your outfit is gross’. It’s the separation from the person that makes it so easy for people. Perhaps it makes them feel good about themselves by putting others down.
I do worry for my future children in this respect. Online trolling wasn’t something that was around when I was a child and I hope to keep my children away from this for as long as possible.
Trolls always seek a reaction, the best thing we can do is ignore them and hope they go back under their bridges and find some positivity.
Ax
