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Instagram and TikTok influencers from Kent share stories of online trolling on Social Media Kindness Day

Social media is at the tip of our fingers every day, it is often the first thing we check in the morning and the last thing we look at before going to bed at night.

As well as being a source of entertainment, for some it can become a full-time career, but influencers from across Kent have shared how online trolls can make their lives a misery.

Tasha Newcombe has thousands of followers across her social media platforms
Tasha Newcombe has thousands of followers across her social media platforms

Tasha Newcombe is a TikTok star from Chatham with more than 132k followers and 4.2 million likes.

She said: "I think it has been crazy, over the past year it has really taken off. I just think it’s mad - there are so many opportunities within the industry that I’m in.

"Even though I’m not necessarily huge, the amount of opportunities that keep cropping up are just insane."

However, she has spoken out on the hate she has received as a result of this new found fame and just how personal the trolls can become.

She added: "I have had to deal with online bullies quite a lot. It’s usually to do with my appearance more than anything."

Tasha has faced trolling online with personal comments about her appearance
Tasha has faced trolling online with personal comments about her appearance

Tasha continued: "Obviously I get a lot of positive comments and the positives almost always outweigh the negative ones.

"If I see something that really does affect me, I just remove it and delete it - I don’t want to see it and I don’t think anyone else should have to see it."

Reflecting on these comments, she believes that focusing on the positives is the best way forward.

She said: "The people who comment negative things usually have their own personal insecurities and they’re trying to push their insecurities onto other people.

"It’s never anything to do with you personally, it’s just that they’re probably struggling as well."

Amy Freelove became a constant target for fast fashion campaigners
Amy Freelove became a constant target for fast fashion campaigners

Amy Freelove has also been the victim of online hate - her Instagram account @lifewiththerogers has 24.9k followers. On the account she shares her experience with motherhood and fashion advice.

She said: "To start with it was just a really tiny Instagram account for my son Harvey when he was first born.

"I love doing photography, so I used to dress him up in little outfits and take pictures of him and someone said I should put them on Instagram. It sort of just rolled on from there, I built great connections with loads of different mums."

Amy faced hateful backlash following a fashion video posted online, she added: "I have had to deal with trolling, I was just starting out and was very nervous.

"Somebody started commenting about fast fashion, making some not very nice comments about me and they became very personal. A lot of people that saw those comments and know me personally were straight on that post and backed me up."

Caroline Flack took her own life after suffering online abuse. Picture: Guy Levy (BBC/PA)
Caroline Flack took her own life after suffering online abuse. Picture: Guy Levy (BBC/PA)

Zoe Cairns, a social media expert from Kent, believes that internet trolling has become more common as many don't understand the impact of their digital conversations in the real world.

She said: "They hide behind a profile and are attacking people through direct messages or comments. It's becoming more and more popular because these people can say what they want without actually revealing who they are.

"Young people are on social media all the time and sometimes they don't realise the implications and don't understand that they can upset and harm people.

"The parents often don't realise what their children are watching or doing online, so now more than ever it's so important to educate our young people on what online bullying actually is."

On Social Media Kindness Day, set up in honour of TV Presenter Caroline Flack who took her own life after suffering internet trolling before and after she'd been charged with assaulting her boyfriend.

Zoe shared her top tips on how to deal with bullying online.

Zoe Cairns' top tips for beating the online trolls
Zoe Cairns' top tips for beating the online trolls

She said: "Firstly tell a trusted adult, especially if you're young, and everyone should tell a friend what is happening.

"You should then report them directly to the social media site via the button on the platform.

"You should block them on the app to stop them from being able to view your content and comment.

"Finally you need to be mindful about where the comment is coming from. Do you know them in real life? Are they in your circle? Why would they have left the comment? You can then take steps to make sure they can't do it again."

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