Ever been trolled online? It’s a horrible experience to have someone leave intentionally provocative or offensive messages on the internet in order to get a reaction. Sadly it's something many people face.
Eighteen year old Tallulah Metcalfe knows this all too well. With almost 7 million followers across her socials, the popular influencer is best known for her “Get Ready With Me” videos and daily vlogs. But alongside her fame, she’s also had to deal with negativity online. Now, Tallulah is sharing her best advice in this video to help others protect their wellbeing when trolls strike.
Hi, I'm Tallulah Metcalfe, and here are four tips for dealing with online trolls. I've dealt with this personally, so I hope my tips help you as much as they help me. Step number one. I think you've heard this everywhere, just block them. You don't need them in your life. You don't need to see their account. You don't need to see what they're doing. Block them. Get them out of your life. Number two kind of relates to number one. There's an option on Instagram and TikTok to filter out comments. You can filter out the words you don't want to see and you will never see them again. That doesn't need to affect you anymore. Number three please, please, please, please, please never let it change the person you are. This is coming from someone who gets told on the daily. You've changed. You've changed since you've got all this hate, I can promise you now. My personality is still the exact same it was two years ago. You being yourself shines way brighter than anything else. Step number four is if you are struggling quite badly, please go speak to a family or friend. Step away from your phone for a bit. If you head to the BBC Bitesize Study Support website, you can get tips and help with anxiety, wellbeing and mental health.
Tallulah's top tips for beating online trolls
- 1. Block them
Take control, block their account and move on.
- 2. Filter out comments
Use tools on Instagram and TikTok to hide their comments. You don't have to read hurtful comments.
- 3. Stay true to yourself
Don’t let negativity change who you are. Being yourself shines brighter than hate.
- 4. Reach out for support
If it feels overwhelming, talk to a friend or family member. Step away from your phone and seek advice from a trusted source.
Try these top tips if it's happening to you, and Tallulah's sure that they'll help your wellbeing.
If you need support
You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you’re doing.
If you’re in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are more links to helpful organisations on the BBC Bitesize Action Line page for young people.
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