The internet has long served as a platform for expressing ideas, opinions, and emotions. At its best, it is a space for creativity, good vibes, constructive criticism, and emotional support. GradPSYCH Blog has observed how social media has made impressive strides in the exchange of academic ideas for students.

At its worst, however, the internet may also become a black hole of vitriol, judgment, and self-righteousness that sucks everyone into darkness. “Internet Rage” is considered a growing threat to society, and some people seem to be self-aware of this habit yet continue to do it. The question then becomes: Why do people feel need to unleash their anger with such ease online despite the consequences?

According to Scientific American, people who make negative and cruel comments about an article (or as response to another comment on that article) “are at a distance from the target of their anger”. The internet works like a buffer for these “trolls” through their anonymity. They use anonymity to bypass the checks and balances of social media etiquette. Maryville University talks about some of the bad things that may arise from this kind of social media use, like badmouthing and posting inappropriate content. Trolls think they can get away with these acts because they use fake names. This makes it more likely for the users to repeat their actions.

They are emboldened to say whatever they want because they tend to regard them as text on a screen. It makes it simpler to say something vicious without fear of a physical confrontation or seeing the other person’s reactions.

Trolls don’t have to worry about people interrupting or interjecting into their opinions, like in a face-to-face conversation. They avoid having a genuine conversation, which requires listening to the opposition’s opinion. Any empathy that could be used to come to an emotionally healthy resolution is taken out of the equation.

Mainstream media has been a huge factor in building this culture of anger. People who watch the likes of Sean Hannity, Crossfire, and Rush Limbaugh may get the impression that judgment and condemnation are acceptable forms of expression. Topics such as government, gun control, and health care can be so divisive. What should be balanced debates end up devolving into venomous personal back-and-forth that resolve nothing. And many of these discussions occur on the internet.

Unless media moves away from these emotional tirades and trades it for more analytical and objective reflections, there will always be people who will resort to personal attacks. Even those people who may have legitimate arguments are in danger of fanning the flames of Internet rage. They may have an excellent point but if they come off as aggressive and belligerent, the people they are addressing may respond in the same manner.

Some psychologists notice that there’s a growing trend of people resorting to online conversations as a source for social interaction. They surmise that trolls don’t intentionally attack people online; it’s just the only way they know how to communicate. If these people engage in more face-to-face conversations with people who have different perspectives, they might learn how to have respectful conversations. Truthfully, it takes a lot of self-control to talk with someone who has an opposing opinion. It requires patience and compromise. But unless there’s a real conscious effort to impose a set of rules that keep these trolls in check, the skill of having a civil conversation is in danger.

At the moment, internet rage is not yet widespread like an epidemic. But the tipping point may be around the corner as reports about online bullying continue. It’s up to all users to be more mindful of their actions and respectful of others. This is the only way to break the destructive cycle.