What the thing is
Trolling is posting deliberately offensive or provocative messages online—or performing similar offline behaviours—to amuse, disrupt, confuse, or harm.
Where it came from
It emerged on BBS and Usenet in the early 1980s or before. Contemporary usage appeared late 1980s; earliest OED attestation is 1992; first Usenet usage was early 1990s in alt.folklore.urban; August 26, 1997 marks early modern usage in Kevin and Kell.
What it gets right
It names a real behavioural pattern: tactical aggression designed to provoke emotional harm. It captures the spectrum from playful provocation to sadistic disruption.
What it gets wrong
It collapses distinct harms—grief trolling, harassment, off-topic derailment—into one label. It lets platforms and journalists avoid naming abuse by calling it ‘trolling’.
Why it matters now
Because media since at least the 2010s has equated trolling with online harassment—flattening legal, ethical, and psychological distinctions—and because ‘troll’ now serves as a catch-all for any speech someone dislikes.
Is it worth your time
Yes—if you need to understand how online conflict is framed, weaponised, and misdiagnosed. No—if you expect a stable definition or a guide to ‘spotting trolls’.
