Trolling vs. Trawling — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 4, 2024
Trolling involves deliberately provoking or harassing online, while trawling refers to fishing with a large net or searching thoroughly.
Difference Between Trolling and Trawling
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Trolling is a term primarily used in the context of the internet, describing the act of deliberately provoking or annoying others online, often by posting inflammatory, irrelevant, or off-topic messages in communities. The intent behind trolling is to disrupt conversations or upset individuals, drawing attention or causing conflict. Whereas trawling, although it can be applied metaphorically to searching or browsing extensively through content or data online, traditionally refers to a fishing technique where a net is dragged through the water to catch fish or other sea creatures. Trawling is also used in broader contexts to describe a thorough search through large volumes of information or areas to find something specific.
The motivations behind trolling and trawling are fundamentally different. Trolling is motivated by a desire to provoke or cause distress, leveraging anonymity or pseudonymity of online platforms to engage in disruptive behavior. On the other hand, trawling is driven by the goal of gathering or capturing whether it be fish in the traditional sense or information and data in a metaphorical sense.
Techniques and tools used in trolling and trawling also differ significantly. Trolling relies on social engineering, understanding of human psychology, and familiarity with digital communication platforms to effectively provoke or manipulate discussions. Trawling, especially in its original fishing context, involves physical nets and boats, while in data or information search contexts, it may involve software tools designed to automate the collection or analysis of large datasets.
The impact of trolling can be negative, affecting the well-being of individuals and the health of online communities by fostering hostility and divisiveness. Conversely, trawling can have positive outcomes, such as the discovery of valuable information or insights from data analysis. However, in the context of fishing, trawling’s impact on marine ecosystems can be negative due to its potential to overfish or harm non-target species.
The perceptions of trolling and trawling vary widely. Trolling is often viewed negatively, associated with cyberbullying and toxic online behavior. Trawling, depending on the context, can be seen either as a necessary method for gathering resources or information, or critically, especially in environmental discussions, where it is associated with ecological damage.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
The act of deliberately provoking or harassing others online.
Fishing with a large net or conducting a thorough search through information.
Primary Context
Internet communication and social media.
Fishing industry and data/information search.
Motivation
To provoke, cause distress, or disrupt.
To gather or capture fish, data, or information.
Techniques/Tools
Social engineering, manipulation of online discourse.
Fishing nets, boats, software tools for data collection.
Impact
Negative on individual well-being and community health.
Can be positive for information gathering, but negative for marine ecosystems in fishing.
Perception
Generally negative, associated with cyberbullying.
Mixed, seen as either necessary or harmful, depending on the context.
Compare with Definitions
Trolling
Trolling is posting provocative messages online to upset or disrupt.
Posting off-topic comments to derail a forum thread is a form of trolling.
Trawling
Trawling refers to catching fish with a large net dragged behind a boat.
Commercial fishing operations often rely on trawling for large catches.
Trolling
It often aims to elicit strong emotional reactions from others.
Trolling on social media can lead to heated and unproductive arguments.
Trawling
In a digital context, trawling means searching extensively through data.
Data scientists trawl through databases to find relevant information.
Trolling
Trolling can contribute to a toxic online environment.
Persistent trolling can discourage people from participating in online discussions.
Trawling
It requires specific equipment, such as nets and boats.
Trawlers are specially designed boats equipped for trawling.
Trolling
Trolls may use anonymity as a shield for their actions.
Anonymously sending provocative messages to users is a common trolling tactic.
Trawling
Trawling can be criticized for its environmental impact.
Trawling can damage seabed habitats and catch unintended marine life.
Trolling
The impact of trolling can extend beyond online, affecting individuals’ real lives.
Victims of trolling may experience stress or anxiety as a result of online harassment.
Trawling
Trawling is used in research to gather large quantities of data.
Researchers may trawl the internet for instances of a specific phenomenon.
Trolling
To fish for by trailing a baited line from behind a slowly moving boat.
Trawling
Trawling is a method of fishing that involves pulling a fishing net through the water behind one or more boats. The net used for trawling is called a trawl.
Trolling
To fish in by trailing a baited line
Troll the lake for bass.
Trawling
A trawl net.
Trolling
To trail (a baited line) in fishing.
Trawling
See setline.
Trolling
To move around in (an area) or go to (different places) searching for something
"The players cautiously refrain from saying anything candid to the press trolling the clubhouse" (David Grann).
Trawling
An act of trawling, as for fish.
Trolling
To examine or search through
Trolling the classifieds for a cheap car.
Trawling
An act of searching for or examining something
A trawl of local records produced some leads.
Trolling
To sing in succession the parts of (a round, for example).
Trawling
To catch (fish) with a trawl.
Trolling
To sing heartily
Troll a carol.
Trawling
To fish (an area) with a trawl.
Trolling
To post inflammatory or irrelevant material on (an electronic forum) to provoke responses.
Trawling
To search (an area) or go to (different places) in search of something
Trawled the shops for a bargain.
Trolling
To fish by trailing a line, as from a moving boat.
Trawling
To make an examination of something
Trawled the archives for a manuscript.
Trolling
To stroll along or wander
"As he was extremely early, he trolled past the community center" (David Bezmozgis).
Trawling
To fish with a trawl.
Trolling
To move around in an area or go to different places searching for something.
Trawling
To troll.
Trolling
To examine or search through something
Trolling through old family photos looking for a picture of my aunt.
Trawling
To search for or try to acquire something
A contractor trawling for day laborers.
Trolling
(Music) To sing heartily or gaily.
Trawling
To make an examination of something
Trawling through a writer's papers.
Trolling
The act of trolling for fish.
Trawling
A commercial fishing technique in which a net is dragged by a moving boat. Not to be confused with trolling, which drags (one or more) lines.
Trolling
A lure, such as a spoon or spinner, that is used for trolling.
Trawling
A laborious search.
Trolling
(Music) A vocal composition in successive parts; a round.
Trawling
Present participle of trawl
Trolling
A person who posts inflammatory or otherwise unwanted material on an electronic forum, especially anonymously.
Trolling
The material so posted.
Trolling
Present participle of troll
Trolling
The act of one who trolls (in various senses).
Trolling
A fishing technique in which one or more baited fishing lines are dragged by a moving boat. Not to be confused with trawling, which drags a net#Noun.
Trolling
Angling by drawing a baited line through the water
Common Curiosities
What is trawling?
Trawling is a method of fishing that involves dragging a large net through water to catch fish, or metaphorically, thoroughly searching through large volumes of data or information.
How do trolls operate online?
Trolls operate by posting inflammatory, irrelevant, or off-topic messages in online communities, using anonymity to provoke or harass others without consequence.
What are the main purposes of trawling?
The main purposes of trawling are to catch large quantities of fish in the fishing industry and to conduct exhaustive searches through data or information in research or digital contexts.
What is trolling?
Trolling is the act of deliberately provoking or harassing others online, typically to elicit a strong emotional response or disrupt discussions.
Can trolling have real-world impacts?
Yes, trolling can have significant real-world impacts, including emotional distress, anxiety, and contributing to a toxic online culture that affects community well-being.
Why is trawling controversial?
Trawling is controversial due to its environmental impact, including potential damage to seabed habitats and the unintended catch of non-target marine species, leading to biodiversity loss.
What measures are being taken to minimize trawling's environmental impact?
Measures include implementing sustainable fishing practices, regulated zones where trawling is prohibited, and developing selective fishing gear to reduce bycatch.
Is trawling used for purposes other than fishing?
Yes, trawling is also used metaphorically to describe the process of searching through large amounts of information or data to find something specific, often in digital contexts.
What differentiates trolling from normal online disagreements?
Trolling is characterized by its intent to provoke or harass, rather than engage in genuine debate or discussion, often using deceit or manipulation to elicit reactions.
How can one protect themselves from trolling?
Protection from trolling can include using privacy settings, not engaging with trolls, and reporting abusive behavior to platform moderators or authorities.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
