Being active online inevitably exposes you to a range of problematic individuals, some of whom may not even be human. This is simply part of the experience. Below are seven types of online trolls and suggestions for responding effectively to each one.

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It’s common for some individuals to respond negatively, especially toward newcomers in various communities. This behavior can undermine one’s self-confidence and create a hostile environment. Often, these critics target those with new channels, perceiving them as more vulnerable and easier to intimidate. However, as one’s audience grows, these detractors typically diminish in activity.

The underlying reason for this is that many of these critics lack the courage to confront individuals who have established support from their audience. While the criticism may sting, valuable insights can be hidden within its remarks. These remarks often reflect the critic’s own insecurities and fears.

However, sharing such vulnerabilities can be risky for the critics themselves, as they may inadvertently expose weaknesses that could be used against them. This dynamic often elicits a sense of sadness, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals who resort to negative behavior rather than fostering constructive dialogues. Understanding this can help in navigating these interactions more effectively.

Some fans may express objections to your content, which can vary broadly. Their criticisms might relate to aspects such as your clothing choices, hairstyle, writing style, or even the presence of pets in your videos. These triggers can be unpredictable, and changing their opinions is often impossible.

Over the years, I’ve encountered individuals who have consistently criticized my previous business content, almost as if they derive some satisfaction from the attention. It is essential to recognize that their focus on negativity does not reflect on you or your work.

To deal with these individuals, it’s advisable to block or ban them. Understand that they are unlikely to become customers and might attempt to disrupt the experience for your other fans, particularly during live events.

Platforms like YouTube offer tools to block comments from specific users or to ban them from your channel entirely. While this action is irreversible, it can help mitigate negativity in your comment section. You will still receive views from these users, but you can keep your environment cleaner by eliminating their harmful comments.

When it comes to trolls online, they can be labeled in various ways: misogynists, chauvinists, racists, and more. These individuals often harbor biases that they struggle to hide. If their presence isn’t essential to your content, it’s best to regard them as detractors.

I highlight this troll because they can emerge unexpectedly. I had several regular fans in my experience with hundreds of YouTube live streams. However, I was taken aback when one of those fans revealed a hostile attitude.

During one of my live streams, my best friend, who was visiting from another state, appeared in the background at my second desk. This led to the unfortunate realization that a regular viewer exhibited blatantly misogynistic behavior. He began making highly inappropriate remarks about my friend, which made everyone present uncomfortable. The comments escalated to a point where I had no choice but to permanently block him from commenting.

Having a website often leads to receiving numerous emails, many of which come from website developers eager to promote your business. Unfortunately, these outreach efforts are frequently inadequate or poorly crafted.

As your website gains traffic, you will likely encounter a surge of messages from search engine optimization (SEO) specialists suggesting you abandon your current strategies in favor of theirs. These self-proclaimed experts typically rely on pre-purchased email templates. A common tactic involves sending an initial email that references another supposedly sent earlier, which is often fabricated.

It’s important to realize that these individuals are reaching out because of your success, hoping you might entrust them with your valuable work. However, such unsolicited contact can undermine your confidence in your own achievements.

If you’re seeking website development or SEO assistance, consider a simple yet revealing factor: check the sender’s email address. If it originates from a Gmail account, they may not be true professionals in the field.

Many trolls operate through automated bots, which are essentially snippets of code designed to generate activity online. If you manage a website, you may monitor the statistics related to attacks, as I did, recording 474 incidents within the first three months of launching mine.

These bots are also active on platforms like YouTube and various social media channels, where they leave comments. I once encountered a comment that suggested I stop discussing my topic because everyone already understood it. However, I soon realized that my subject was not widely discussed, which helped put that comment in perspective.

It’s essential not to be swayed by such remarks. Often, these comments are meticulously crafted, with every word chosen to create a specific impact.

Receiving the same comment three months later, complete with the same grammatical errors, was a revealing experience. This consistency highlighted the artificial nature of these bot-generated messages.

Additionally, consider the classic email scam featuring a purported Nicaraguan prince offering a fortune in exchange for a small sum of money. These emails are frequently rife with spelling and grammatical mistakes. Why is this so? This design intends to filter out those who might be less discerning, inadvertently serving the scam’s purpose by exposing it to a wider audience.

The internet hosts a significant amount of pornography, and automated bots often share inappropriate content during live streams. This situation has become increasingly sophisticated. Major platforms like YouTube have implemented restrictions on certain terms; however, these bot-generated posts cleverly sidestep these bans by using alternative wording or links.

To enhance your experience on these platforms, you can proactively block unwanted content by adding specific keywords to your list of banned terms. These bots are designed to appear polished and legitimate, making it essential to think creatively about the terms you choose for blocking. While maintaining vigilance in this process may require effort, it ultimately contributes to a more positive environment for your audience.

My other business has a YouTube channel that recently gained 50,000 subscribers. While this number can be viewed as a vanity metric with limited intrinsic value, it does attract attention from some critics, commonly referred to as trolls.

When some audience members begin to recognize a creator’s notoriety, they might feel that the channel has the potential to influence a broader audience if the content shifts to areas they are passionate about. This shift may stem from their own experiences—whether it’s a live-streaming endeavor, a campaign to sell puppies, or advocacy for a political cause that matters to them.

However, it’s important to note that the core audience you’ve cultivated is likely dedicated to a specific niche. Engagement may wane quickly if the content diverges too far from their interests. A new troll might argue that even a small percentage of your audience could positively affect their cause. Still, there’s little consideration for the potential loss of your established audience, which can occur rapidly if content strays too far from the original focus.

Fame invites a variety of troll types, each with its own characteristics. Some types emerge quickly and fade away just as fast, while others linger for an extended period. Understanding what to anticipate from these trolls and how to manage them effectively is crucial for navigating the complexities of being in the spotlight.

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