Australian content creators are taking matters into their own hands to unmask online trolls. Could it lead to a safer Internet?
Indy Clinton Unmasks Online Trolls
Indy Clinton recently shared a post that has garnered more than 3.7 million views. In it, Clinton is dancing in her kitchen — a seemingly standard video, until you read the onscreen text and realize what she's holding in her hand.
"How it feels receiving a 64 page report from my PI after an extension 3 month investigation on all my ladies (mothers) who have continuously bullied, defamed & trolled me and my family for months n [sic] months & even years," the caption said. Clinton appears to be holding that very report in her hand.
The video has also garnered nearly 275,000 likes and thousands of comments from people showing support to Clinton for taking matters into her own hands. Clinton, who has amassed a following with a variety of content but a specific focus on motherhood, later expanded on her decision in future posts.
"These faceless strangers are hiding behind anonymous accounts, destroying mental health, and costing lives," Clinton says. And the data supports that. In fact, with adolescents, 20 percent of kids who are cyber bullied consider taking their own lives and at least 10 percent attempt it. "The saddest thing to me," Clinton continues, "is that these trolls would not even blink twice if they robbed someone of their loved one because of their words."
Through hiring a private investigator to find the most egregious online bullies, Clinton says she found out all kinds of details, from their businesses down to tattoos they got when they were eighteen — even though many went to great lengths to try to hid their identities while also bullying Clinton. She says one of the most surprising thing is that many turned out to be mothers themselves.
A Cost-Prohibitive Peace Of Mind
While many creators and fans applauded Clinton for publicly speaking about her efforts to unmask online trolls, it can be incredibly expensive. Fellow Australian influencer Olivia White spoke to an Australian news station about her own battles with trolls and the lengths she's gone to in order to protect herself.
"I've had to engage lawyers, I have engaged with a cyber forensics expert, but it's really, really expensive," White says. "I was able to identify one of the people that was on there, because it crossed over into stalking and harassment. It crossed over into a dangerous area, I had to take action both criminally and civilly, and that included taking out personal safety international orders."
There's a growing law practice around defending online personalities who say traditional law enforcement often fails to protect people who are being harassed online. Not only can bullying be terrible for mental health — it can also directly affect a creator's ability to make money and otherwise do their job.
The reality is, a lot of people don't realize some of the harassment is actually a crime, not just a "civil" matter.
"Now that a lot of influencers know their rights, they're aware now that a crime has been committed against them and they've got a right to go to the police," says attorney Lauren Cassimatis. "I've had clients that have been stalked online or in reality and the police have just said, 'This is probably more of a civil dispute or defamation, I can't help'. But I think through this movement there will be some education for police, influencers and likely offenders just to really know what everyone's options are."
What's The Next Step?
So what exactly is the point of unmasking online trolls? For some, it could be to take actual legal action against these individuals. Whether its for money, safety, or to prove a point, creators who have the means to take legal action absolutely should.
In other cases, it's just about making people feel less "safe" harassing other anonymously. Whether they understand what they're doing is harmful or not, people are shown to decrease these behaviors when they're made public. Many people say they know even things like spreading false rumors online is wrong, but they do it anyway. If creators have the power to say they know somebody is doing it, a stronger sense of morality may prevail and reduce occurrences of some types of cyber bulling.
For Clinton, the point is two-fold. She very specifically wants anybody who thinks of bullying her to know that she will pay what it takes to find them and bring them to justice if necessary. But she also wants to bring more awareness to the issue so that other creators know they don't have to just sit their and take harassment.
While some studies have shown certain types of online trolls will troll harder when using their real name, the worst type of abuse and bullying online decreases drastically when an "anonymous" person no longer feels anonymous. The simplest step may start with making it known that nobody is truly anonymous on the Internet.