The Brief: An internet troll is a person who causes mischief, usually by riling people up and making inflammatory comments online.

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DEEP DIVE

An internet troll is a person who causes mischief, usually by riling people up and making inflammatory comments online. Trolling is the act of being a troll.

A troll doesn’t necessarily believe in what they say online, but may just be stirring up outrage and chaos for its own sake. Trolling can be mild, but often is hurtful, dangerous, and overlaps with cyberbullying.

More extreme and dangerous forms of trolling include doxing and swatting.