Trolling Democracy
The Internet is a hub for gathering political information and accounts for significant political activity; however, social interactions online are often disrupted by trolling. As digital democracy continues to evolve, understanding trolling is crucial for developing strategies to foster a healthier online environment conducive to democratic engagement. Understanding the objective of posting deceitful, inflammatory content is crucial.
Trolling Democracy offers both academic and practical insights into one of the most pressing challenges of the digital age. By leveraging theoretical insights, empirical evidence from new surveys, and innovative experiments, J. Benjamin Taylor and Sean Richey offer a comprehensive understanding of trolling’s effect on the public sphere and its implications for democratic processes. Furthermore, they address the broader societal concerns raised by the proliferation of trolling, including the spread of misinformation, the erosion of trust in online platforms, and the exacerbation of political polarization.
Enhancing our knowledge of trolling by bridging gaps in previous research and proposing new avenues for future study, Taylor and Richey equip us with the tools to counteract its negative effects more effectively.
J. Benjamin Taylor is Associate Professor of Political Science at Kennesaw State University. He researches and teaches courses on American political behavior. He has published several books and academic journal articles in Political Communication, State Politics & Policy Quarterly, American Politics Research, Politics & Religion, and Presidential Studies Quarterly.
Sean Richey is Professor of Political Science at Georgia State University. He was a Fulbright Fellow from 2013 to 2014 at the University of Tokyo. He was a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Tokyo between 2004 and 2006. He researches American politics, specializing in elections, voting behavior, public opinion, and quantitative methodology. His research has appeared in two peer-reviewed books and academic journal articles, including in Political Research Quarterly, the British Journal of Political Science, Political Communication, Political Behavior, International Studies Quarterly, and others.