High-profile
beauty vlogger Em Ford was a victim of online abuse and fought back.
Now she targets the alarming rise of online abuse in Britain by trying
to track down the trolls responsible.
With the help of technology
journalist David McClelland, Em investigates this very modern menace.
She is on a mission to put a face to these anonymous bullies and to
confront them with their victims.
In its most extreme form, trolling
is a criminal offence - one that is being increasingly pursued by the
British police - but anonymity remains a major barrier to conviction.
The film investigates online anonymity and proves that it is possible to
track down a troll. It shines a light on the real-world impact of
online bullying and encourages cyber-victims to put a stop to the hatred
levelled at them by standing up to their trolls.
Trolling is a
phenomenon that has swept across the web in recent years. On a daily
basis, an audience of millions sits back and witnesses the ultimate
humiliation of civilians and celebrities alike on social networking
sites. Opponents say it's the internet equivalent of assault, while
supporters argue it's about humour, mischief and freedom of speech. In
any case trolling has escalated to levels so severe that some victims
are succumbing to anxiety, depression and, in the very worst cases,
suicide.
Ultimately, Troll Hunters is here to name, shame and lay
down the law to Britain's worst offenders and to unpick the psychology
of what makes a troll tick.