In this episode, we discuss how persuasion manifests online. We focus on how persuasion is used on social media by influencers and how we process and understand persuasive messages. We also discuss how persuasion is used in misinformation and some strategies to counter false or misleading information!

Misinformation Resources

https://spunout.ie/life/privacy-security/fake-news/

HTML Heroes - https://heroes.webwise.ie/html-heroes/

Research Resources

Principles of Persuasion - https://www.influenceatwork.com/7-principles-of-persuasion/

Source Credibility and Persuasive Arguements - https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/jebde-10-2022-0038/full/html

Elaboration Likelihood Model of Persuasion - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0065260108602142

In this episode, we dig into why people troll, harass and gossip online and what makes it so common—from anonymity and online disinhibition to personality traits, from group dynamics to platform culture. We explore who trolls are, what motivates them, and how even ordinary people can get caught up in it. With real-life examples and research, we also look at how to tackle trolling and make the internet a kinder place.

Content warning: sexual harassment, suicide, and psychological distress.

Support resources If you have been affected by the content of this episode in any way, the supports at the link below may be of assistance. If you are not in Ireland, please seek supports local to you. Irish Health Service Executive mental health supports

The Samaritans

Pieta House - Suicide and Self-harm Resource

Key Papers

Suler (2004). The Online Disinhibition Effect. Cyberpsychology and Behaviour.

Rost, et al. (2016). Digital Social Norm Enforcement: Online Firestorms in Social Media. PLOS One.

Synnott, et al. (2017). Online trolling: The case of Madeleine McCann. Computers in Human Behavior.

Ng, et al. (2023). Does Instagram make you speak ill of others or improve yourself? A daily diary study on the moderating role of malicious and benign envy. Computers in Human Behavior.

Buckles, et al. (2014). Trolls just want to have fun. Personality and Individual Differences.

Moor & Anderson (2019). A systematic literature review of the relationship between dark personality traits and antisocial online behaviours. Personality and Individual Differences.

Dineva, et al. (2021). A review of organisational strategies to deal with trolls and their effectiveness. Internet Research.

We take a deeper look at online harassment, particularly the rise and impact of trolling. Building on our online dating episode, we explore who is most affected, how it manifests, and the psychological toll it can take. Focusing on deliberate, harmful online behaviour meant to antagonise or disrupt, we unpack the different forms of trolling and why it’s become so widespread.

This is part one of a two-part topic (because Nicola likes to talk – and this is a big topic to cover!). The second episode will get into the causes of trolling – who are the trolls and why do they do what they do?

Content warning: sexual harassment, suicide, and psychological distress.

Support resources If you have been affected by the content of this episode in any way, the supports at the link below may be of assistance. If you are not in Ireland, please seek supports local to you. Irish Health Service Executive mental health supports

The Samaritans

Pieta House - Suicide and Self-harm Resource

Key Papers

PEW Research: The State of Online Harassment

DCU: Understanding Adult Experiences of Online Hate in Ireland – An Exploratory Survey

The Impact of Online Abuse: Hearing the Victims’ Voice report – UK

Aktar & Marrison (2019) The prevalence and impact of online trolling of UK members of parliament