Sources
Every source this site relies on, and the exact wording each claim rests on.
How this is checked
A claim can only appear on this site if its supporting quote is present, word for word, in an archived copy of the source that is stored alongside the site’s own code. The check runs on every change, offline, against that stored copy — so it cannot be satisfied by a source that merely exists, and it cannot be quietly broken later by a page changing under us.
That is a deliberately higher bar than checking whether a link works. A link that resolves proves the source is real. It does not prove the source says what we claim it says, and that is the failure that actually misleads people.
14 sources · 18 claims
Peer-reviewed
Anyone Can Become a Troll: Causes of Trolling Behavior in Online Discussions
Cheng, Bernstein, Danescu-Niculescu-Mizil & Leskovec · CSCW 2017 · 2017
In an experiment plus a large longitudinal analysis, negative mood and exposure to prior troll posts each raised the probability of a user trolling, and together doubled it.
“both negative mood and seeing troll posts by others significantly increases the probability of a user trolling, and together double this probability”
Dictionary
Astroturfing (definition)
Merriam-Webster
Astroturfing is organised activity designed to look like a spontaneous grassroots movement while actually being initiated and controlled by a concealed interest.
“organized activity that is intended to create a false impression of a widespread, spontaneously arising, grassroots movement”
Journalism
Don't feed the trolls really is good advice - here's the evidence
Evita March · The Conversation · 2016-10-06
Trolling is motivated in part by 'negative social potency' — the social reward some people get from creating discord — which is the mechanism underlying the advice to disengage.
“negative social potency is measured using the social rewards questionnaire”
In March's study, negative social potency — the reward some people get from causing distress — predicted trolling more strongly than psychopathy or sadism did.
“the effect of negative social potency was far stronger than the effects of psychopathy and sadism”
Dictionary
Doxxing (definition)
Merriam-Webster
To dox someone is to publicly identify them or publish their private information, typically as punishment or revenge.
“to publicly identify or publish private information about (someone) especially as a form of punishment or revenge”
Dictionary
Gaslighting (definition)
Merriam-Webster
Gaslighting is psychological manipulation, usually sustained over time, that leads someone to question their own perception, memory or judgement.
“psychological manipulation of a person usually over an extended period of time that causes the victim to question the validity of their own thoughts, perception of reality, or memories”
Government
I feel like I am living someone else's life: one in seven people a victim of stalking
Office for National Statistics · 2024-09-26
In the year to March 2024, 42% of stalking victims in England and Wales said the stalking had involved online methods.
“approximately 635,000 (42%) victims reported that the stalking had involved online methods”
Government
Report a stalker
GOV.UK
UK government guidance is to call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger, and local police otherwise.
“call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. contact your local police if it's not an emergency”
The National Stalking Helpline is 0808 802 0300, open Monday and Wednesday 9:30am-8pm and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9:30am-4pm.
“national stalking helpline telephone: 0808 802 0300 monday and wednesday, 9:30am to 8pm tuesday, thursday and friday, 9:30am to 4pm”
Dictionary
Sock puppet (definition)
Merriam-Webster
A sock puppet is a false online identity used for deceptive purposes.
“a false online identity used for deceptive purposes”
Government
Stalking and Harassment
Crown Prosecution Service
Under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 a 'course of conduct' means conduct on at least two occasions, and harassment is not exhaustively defined but includes conduct causing alarm or distress.
“harassment is not defined but includes conduct causing alarm or distress” (A course of conduct)
Where a campaign targets two or more people, CPS guidance says a course of conduct means conduct on at least one occasion in relation to each person.
“in relation to the harassment of two or more persons, it means conduct on at least one occasion in relation to each person”
Peer-reviewed
Stalking and Intimate Partner Femicide
McFarlane, Campbell, Wilt, Sachs, Ulrich & Xu · Homicide Studies · 1999
Archived copy · doi:10.1177/1088767999003004003
In a US study of 141 femicide and 65 attempted-femicide incidents, most victims had been stalked by their partner in the 12 months beforehand.
“the prevalence of stalking was 76% for femicide victims and 85% for attempted femicide victims” (abstract)
Journalism
The Terrible Sea Lion
David Malki · Wondermark · 2014-09-19
The term comes from a 2014 Wondermark strip by David Malki in which a sea lion pursues a couple with unfailingly polite demands for evidence, following them into their home.
“i've been unfailingly polite, and you two have been nothing but rude”
In the originating comic the sea lion's politeness is precisely what makes the behaviour hard to object to: each individual request looks reasonable.
“there's no need to raise your voice. i'm right here. i'm just curious if you have any sources to back up your opinion”
Dictionary
What is 'Sealioning'?
Merriam-Webster
Sealioning is a form of trolling that aims to exhaust the other participant rather than to conduct a real discussion.
“is a form of trolling meant to exhaust the other debate participant with no intention of real discourse”
Peer-reviewed
What is DARVO?
Jennifer J. Freyd · University of Oregon · 1997
DARVO names a reaction perpetrators may show when held accountable: Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender.
“darvo refers to a reaction perpetrators of wrong doing, particularly sexual offenders, may display in response to being held accountable for their behavior”
Dictionary
Whataboutism (definition)
Merriam-Webster
Whataboutism is responding to an accusation by claiming someone else's offence is similar or worse, rather than answering the accusation.
“the act or practice of responding to an accusation of wrongdoing by claiming that an offense committed by another is similar or worse”
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