March 8, 2023

How to deal with Internet Trolls

Internet trolls are a pervasive problem that can make online platforms unpleasant or even toxic environments. Internet trolls are people who engage in abusive, harassing, and often irrelevant behavior in online forums, social media, and other online platforms. Unfortunately, internet trolls can often bypass moderation measures to continue their trolling. This is where some platforms try to use user verification as a solution. But better don't forget about user privacy.

Does User Verification help combat Internet Trolls?

User verification can be as simple as confirming a user's email address or as complex as using biometric data to verify their identity. But it does not really solve the internet troll problem. Here is why and how you can make it work.

Email verification is too weak and users often don't verify their identity on online platforms for privacy reasons. Anonymity on the internet is a very valuable good. Traditional user verification methods that require users to provide personal information or biometric data can be invasive and time-consuming, which additionally discourage users from completing the process.

But there is a better way. Full privacy user verification is an effective solution to this issue. By prioritizing user privacy during the user verification process, users are more likely to trust the platform and feel comfortable sharing personal information. Full privacy user verification allows users to verify their identity without compromising their privacy, by using secure methods such as encryption and other privacy-preserving technologies. Trusted Accounts is a not-for-profit and fully trustworthy company that has you covered with a ready to use and optimized user verification service that keeps users' identities secret.

How to make more users verify

User verification is crucial to combat internet trolls in online communities. However, it's equally important to value user privacy during the user verification process to protect them from potential harm.

Full privacy user verification is highly recommended for combating internet trolls as it offers a higher level of identity assurance and can deter internet trolls from hiding behind anonymity to engage in abusive behavior. By valuing user privacy, online communities can protect personal information, encourage participation, avoid discrimination, and promote trust between users and the community. Therefore, a robust user verification process that prioritizes privacy can foster a safe and healthy environment for online communities to thrive, free from the disruption of internet trolls.

How to deal with Internet Trolls

Trusted Accounts is a powerful tool that platforms can use to combat internet trolls while keeping user identities secret. By requiring users to go through a user verification process, platforms can ensure that only legitimate users are interacting with others on their platform. Here are a few ways that platforms can use Trusted Accounts to combat trolling behavior:

  1. Verify user identities: Trusted Accounts verifies user using a privacy first approach. All user data is encrypted, slit up and hosted on various providers. To earn user trust, Trusted Accounts is a not-for-profit and purpose company and gives away 100% of its earning to projects that make the internet a more peaceful place. The user verification with Trusted Accounts will increase your user verification rate because users know their privacy is protected.
  2. Award Trusted Account badges: Once a user's identity is verified, they are awarded a Trusted Account badge. This badge serves as a signal of trust to other users on the platform, and can help to create a more positive environment. Users with Trusted Account badges are less likely to engage in trolling behavior because their verified Trusted Account is tied to their verified account on the platform.
  3. Limit fake accounts: Internet trolls often engage in trolling behavior anonymously because it allows them to create an endless amount of new accounts. By requiring users to go through a user verification process, platforms can limit abusive behavior and prevent trolls from creating fake accounts.
  4. Create a safer environment: Trusted Accounts can help to create a safer environment for users by limiting trolling behavior. When users know that their verification is tied to their account, they are less likely to engage in abusive or harassing behavior. This can help to create a more positive and welcoming environment for everyone.

Overall, Trusted Accounts is a powerful tool that platforms can use to combat trolling behavior. By verifying user identities, awarding Trusted Account badges, limiting abusive behavior, and creating a safer environment, platforms can help to create a more peaceful web for their users.

Why Anonymity is important for User Verification

It is important to value user privacy when verifying users in online communities to protect them from internet trolls because privacy is a fundamental right of individuals, and respecting that right can promote trust, safety, and participation in online communities. Here are some reasons why:

  1. Protecting personal information: When users are asked to provide personal information for user verification purposes, there is a risk that this information could be misused or compromised. By valuing user privacy, online communities can take measures to safeguard personal information and ensure that it is used only for the intended purpose of user verification.
  2. Encouraging participation: Some users may be hesitant to participate in online communities if they are required to provide personal information for user verification. By valuing user privacy and providing transparent information about how personal information will be used, online communities can encourage more users to participate and contribute to discussions.
  3. Avoiding discrimination: User verification processes that rely on personal information such as name, age, gender, or ethnicity could lead to discrimination against certain groups. Or it could allow criminal groups to target people with certain opinions. By valuing user privacy, online communities can avoid collecting unnecessary personal information that could be used to discriminate against users.
  4. Promoting trust: Valuing user privacy can help build trust between users and the online community. When users feel that their personal information is being handled with care and respect, they are more likely to trust the community and engage in productive and respectful discussions.