Save Our Trolls: Understanding Online Abuse and Where to Get Help

An unusual angle on online abuse

Save Our Trolls was a campaign-style website, archived in 2018, that took an unexpected view of online abuse. Instead of treating abusive commenters only as enemies, it suggested that many people who behave this way are unhappy themselves, and that helping them could make the internet kinder for everyone. The artwork carried slogans in that spirit, with a heart made of hands joined over a keyboard, and noted that the project had been mentioned on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. The archived site was organised into sections called Troll, Trolled and About, and it pointed visitors toward support organisations.

What this site covers

This page and the articles below are an independent informational resource inspired by that idea. They are not run by the original campaign. The aim is to explain online abuse in plain terms and to point toward sensible next steps.

• What online trolling really is, and how it differs from ordinary disagreement.
• How online abuse affects wellbeing, for people on the receiving end.
• Practical steps if you are being trolled.
• Supporting someone who is being targeted.
• Being a good bystander online.

Support organisations

The archived pages listed several UK organisations as places to start for anyone who needs help: the National Bullying Helpline, Calm, Samaritans, MIND and SANE. They cover bullying, suicide prevention, mental health and emotional support. Searching for their official websites is the safest way to find current services, since contact methods change over time. If you or someone near you is in immediate danger, contact emergency services in your country.

A note on tone

Nothing here excuses abuse. Understanding why people lash out online is a different thing from tolerating it, and the practical advice in these articles puts the safety and wellbeing of the target first. At the same time, recognising that many abusers are struggling themselves can help communities respond in ways that reduce harm in the long run.