If you've been active on the web for quite some time, then you've probably come across a toxic person more than once. They are everywhere and vary in the caliber of how bothersome they are. Here are the types of toxic people online and how you deal with them.
1. Trolls
Internet trolls embolden by the veil of anonymity that the internet provides. These types of users usually try to get others mad just for the hell of it, and what's concerning is that some would cross lines just to get a reaction out of someone.
In general, ignoring toxic people online is the general solution, but it's more true when it comes to trolls. They thrive when their attention-seeking methods are working, so the best response is no response at all, and hopefully, that would make them stop.
2. Keyboard Warriors
You'll usually find these people in the comment section of controversial posts. They always have something negative to say about anything, and it is not necessarily in the form of constructive criticism either, as mentioned on Page One.
You can always contradict them especially if you know that you're in the right. Your response might just convince people that the behavior the "hater" displayed is not something to be tolerated. Good points can also help enlighten others about the right mindset on a topic.
3. Misinformation Spreaders
Misinformation has become a major issue online. A lot of people would provide false information for attention or interactions, and some of them even earn from it. Although simple research would allow you to know better, some people immediately believe what they read online.
Neutrality is not so bad, but correcting the given information and providing factual responses would be better. It will help others see what's true and what's not. After that, you can report the post or the person who posted it so they won't be able to spread more fake news.
4. Cyberbullies
Cyberbullies are worse than "keyboard warriors" since the latter are convinced that they are right so they express their opinions, while cyberbullies do what they do to intentionally hurt someone they don't like or don't agree with, as mentioned in Life Advancer.
Like trolls, they can also hide behind anonymity so they believe that they can escape the consequences of their actions. The best way to deal with them is to report them. Don't engage the user because they'll likely throw worse at you.
5. Gossipers
While online gossiping is also a type of cyberbullying, the former is somewhat different since it can be more damaging. Cyberbullies, more often than not, only criticize one person and that's the end of it. Gossipers usually share their opinions with others who would agree.
This can spread like wildfire, and gossiping about false information can ruin someone's life. One example you'll be all too familiar with is the feud between Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber. Things got way out of hand that Hailey Bieber started to get threats for her life.
The best way to deal with this is to not contribute to the trend. When you see posts about gossip, don't share it on your timeline or with others. Try to do some fact checking as well so when someone does come to you with the topic, you can explain to them what the truth is.
