Flaming (Internet)

Flaming, also known as roasting, is the act of posting insults, often including profanity or other offensive language, on the internet.[1] Flaming is distinct from trolling, which is the act of someone causing discord online or in person. Flaming emerges from the anonymity that Internet forums provide for users and which allow them to act more aggressively.[2] Anonymity can lead to disinhibition, which results in the swearing, offensive, and hostile language characteristic of flaming. Lack of social cues, less accountability of face-to-face communications, textual mediation and deindividualization are also likely factors.[3] Deliberate flaming is carried out by individuals known as flamers, which are specifically motivated to incite flaming. These users specialize in flaming and target specific aspects of a controversial conversation.

While these behaviors may be typical or expected in certain types of forums, they can have dramatic, adverse effects in others. Flame wars can have a lasting impact on some internet communities where even once a flame war has concluded a division or even dissolution may occur.[3]

The individuals that create an environment of flaming and hostility, lead the readers to disengage with the offender and may potentially leave the message board and chat room. The continual use of flaming within the online community can create a disruptive and negative experience for those involved and can lead to limited involvement and engagement within the original chat room and program.[4]

  1. ^ "Flaming Definition". techterms.com. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  2. ^ Cho, Daegon; Kwon, K. Hazel (October 2015). "The impacts of identity verification and disclosure of social cues on flaming in online user comments". Computers in Human Behavior. 51: 363–372. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2015.04.046.
  3. ^ a b Humphreys, Ashlee (2016). Social media: enduring principles. Oxford. ISBN 9780199328437. OCLC 908698924.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ "Childlessness pot shots may have worked with Julia Gillard, but there is rage over 'Princess Palaszczuk' | van Badham". TheGuardian.com. 31 December 2019.