The Tipping Point: Factors that Trigger User Engagement in Reactive Trolling on Short Video Platforms

Sun, Honglei (Lia); Chen, Yidan; Wu, Kexin

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132994 Copy

Description

Title

The Tipping Point: Factors that Trigger User Engagement in Reactive Trolling on Short Video Platforms

Author(s)

• Sun, Honglei (Lia)
• Chen, Yidan
• Wu, Kexin

Issue Date

2026-03-12

Keyword(s)

• Triggering mechanism
• Reactive trolling
• Short video platforms
• Theory of information ecology
• Community informatics

Abstract

Purpose. Trolling is prevalent across short video platforms but attracts little scholarly attention. This poster aims to reveal the factors that trigger user trolling reactions on short video platforms and the relationships among these factors. Method. Data were collected by interviews with 30 users who have experienced trolling on short video platforms and analyzed using systematic thematic analysis. Findings. We found that factors related to information actors (i.e., users’ emotional reactions, cognitive conflict, and social needs) are the main drivers for reactive trolling. Information-related factors (i.e., information pollution and issue contradiction) are the fuel and fuse of users’ trolling reactions. Factors concerning information environment (i.e., functional design, regulatory mechanisms, and algorithmic logic) create a scene that is prone to amplify emotional expressions and push users into reactive trolling. The interplay of these three aspects constitutes the trigger mechanism of reactive trolling. Contributions. Theoretically, it extends trolling research to short video contexts and enriches information ecology theory by applying it in a trolling context. Also, the findings are useful for platform designers in developing intervention tools and managers in mitigating trolling incidents.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2026 Proceedings

Type of Resource

Other

Genre of Resource

Conference Poster

Language

eng

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132994

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2026 is held by Honglei (Lia) Sun, Yidan Chen, and Kexin Wu. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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