Twitter is growing in popularity and drawing users of all ages; yet, it is also becoming a venue for more trolls, verbal abuse, spam, and hatred. Many people are claiming that Twitter is growing more poisonous by the day. Random Twitter accounts have grown and are being used for spamming comments on other people’s tweets, posting inappropriate information, propagating fake news, and other activities. With over 150 million daily users, Twitter is one of the most popular social networking networks. And since it’s a platform that allows you to communicate your thoughts on nearly anything, it’s also become a tool for individuals to mock others. So, today we’re delving into why Twitter has become a toxic venue for angry bullies, as well as the best method to avoid any possible cyberbullying.

Reason #1: The spread of fake news and misinformation

The usage and propagation of misinformation is one of the leading causes of toxicity on Twitter. In reality, false news spreads at a pace that is almost 70% higher than correct information, and it is frequently distributed by people, not bots! Here’s an example: during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Floyd Mayweather was said to have worn a hijab to a Donald Trump event. The general population, like many other false news websites and publications, took this too seriously.

So, how does this contribute to Twitter’s toxicity?

When people receive new information that is likely to startle them, they have a stronger emotional reaction. It has a significantly greater impact than receiving factual information they’ve already responded to. And if individuals are receptive to it, they will experience a wide range of emotions in response to specific news and events that they believe are real but are not! If you come across any incorrect news, be sure to read Twitter’s reporting misinformation policy.

Reason #2: Unfiltered Opinions Lead to More Hate Speech

Twitter is unpolished. You can join groups that share practically any perspective that does not violate the community’s guidelines. Unfortunately, this also implies that there will be groups committed to eradicating other people’s points of view. But first, let me make an essential point. The application does everything behind a screen. Of course, this makes it simpler for trolls to mock anyone online without fear of repercussions!

However, there is a way for you to prevent receiving hate speech at your digital door. Simply make a private list of user subjects in which you are really interested and follow them carefully to view and offer your thoughts. With the addition of fake news being shared on the site, this adds additional gasoline to the fire when individuals are able to let go of the majority of what has been hiding within them. When you combine it with a limited character constraint, you get a powerful force of tweets that can blast through anything in its path.

Reason #3: A Low Character Count Increases Negativity

Twitter allows you to type almost anything up to 280 characters. Nice and short for a quick opinion. However, it is also brief enough to express a ‘crazy idea’ for the day. The disadvantage of a limited character count is that it allows you to build unfiltered phrases of incomplete views. As a result, this might either mislead people or make them doubt the genuineness of the app’s users. After all, one brief paragraph isn’t going to get you a decent conversation or a thought-provoking perspective. Yes, you can create a Twitter thread by replying to your tweets, but your followers will usually just read the initial tweet. If the tweet is about an opposing viewpoint and is incomplete (because to the limited character count), people may find it offensive, and their emotions begin to spread.

They don’t follow up on that discussion, and your explanations go unnoticed. An even greater issue arises when politicians and celebrities express their views on social media platforms. Because of their greater clout, their statements frequently incite more trolling and abusive conduct toward others, including themselves! Because Twitter displays tweets on the homepage without displaying the complete thread, many individuals may see a distorted representation of the original message. When misinterpreted tweets are distributed to large groups of individuals with opposing viewpoints, a flood of abusive tweets targeted at the original tweet and the user.

Reason #4: Hoards of Bullies Cause Harassment

It comes as no surprise that when something gets popular, more individuals seek to follow that trend on a daily basis. It makes no difference whether the trend is good or negative. Most individuals who crave a sense of community will follow the ‘next cool thing.’

So, how does this relate to Twitter bullying?

Bullying is defined as “attempting to injure, intimidate, or compel someone perceived as vulnerable.” When you look at how people dispute each other’s views on the app, you’ll see a pattern. They force, intimidate, and threaten the individual in their spotlight until he or she apologizes. However, when they create groups, their influence is greater. To the point where these bullies may develop plans to meddle with that person’s or their loved ones’ life in a possibly harmful way. Now that we’ve covered the top four reasons why Twitter is so poisonous, let’s look at how you may avoid negativity.

How to Avoid Negativity on Twitter

If you receive negative attention on the app, you must immediately stop communicating with that account. The best method to accomplish this is to block their account. The benefit of blocking somebody is that they can no longer access your Tweets, pictures, or other information on your account or contact you via the app. That is the greatest way to avoid harassment of any type. Don’t dismiss cyber threats. Take them seriously by performing the following:

• Take screenshots of abusive tweets and document the violent harassment.
• When documenting this information, be very explicit about the details.
• If you have any suspicions about who is involved, such as if they contacted you via another social networking app, make a list of these individuals and their conduct. 

Conclusion

Twitter is a wonderful service for meeting others who have similar interests and sharing material, photographs, videos, and ideas. However, while discussing matters with individuals online, you must use extreme caution. We’ve already discussed the key reasons for its toxicity: hate speech, false news, harassment, and short tweet restrictions. Remember, whether it’s a positive or bad encounter, things become popular when groups of people participate in those topics because it fosters a feeling of community among individuals. And the easiest method to prevent all of the harassment is to disable any accounts that contact you in a hostile manner. Threats must be taken seriously, and we encourage that you capture particular information by screenshotting Tweets and showing them to authorities. Because any further proof might help you put your mind at ease when dealing with harassment issues.