Trolling asymmetry toward Republicans and Democrats and the shift from foreign to domestic trolling

Abstract

Online trolling toward politicians is noticeable now more than ever before. The increase in online political discourse in recent years on one hand and the increased efforts to curb the spread of trolling and disinformation on the other hand may affect trolling in opposing direction. We examine how four trolling tactics toward politicians evolved between the 2016 and 2020 US presidential election cycles. We also examine the variations in trolling toward Democrat and Republican politicians in light of the asymmetric nature of American politics. Based on thematic content analysis of 9,461 comments on tweets posted by candidates from both parties, we found differences in the extent and style of trolling tactics between the two election cycles, with a significant increase in insulting. We also found trolling asymmetry in the extent and style of trolling comments toward Republicans and Democrats. Informed by theories of online disinhibition and ideological asymmetry, we discuss the trolling asymmetry, and we explain the change in the degree of trolling tactics over time in light of the shift from the Russian trolls to domestic trolling.