Swara Bhaskar says it is the anonymity of users on social media that is responsible for internet trolling that celebrities have face more often than not.
Swara says Twitter has just become another street for her, where people can misbehave or pass comments by using the default egg profile.
“I think the world of Twitter and the social media trolling is a very stark example of how our society functions. For me, it has become a place where you can pass comments on girls,” Swara told.
“You can easily hide your real identity on Twitter. You’re just a Twitter egg and doing things behind that anonymity. And I feel that invisibility is giving you the power to misbehave,” she adds.
While some actors prefer to avoid trolls, Swara, 28, says she always makes sure to give it back to them.
“My way of dealing with social media trolls is to respond. I’m constantly involved in ‘quote retweet’, where you can quote and shame those people.
“You should never stay quiet if someone is trying to misbehave with you. Challenge it just like you would react on the street if someone misbehaves with you. You have to respond, you have to not let it slide and that’s what I do.”
Although Swara believes it is important to “respond” to trolls, at the same time she thinks actors should be open to criticism because that is how they will know what reality is.
“On my Facebook page anybody can post anything. And I’ve deliberately not made it private which I can easily do by changing my account settings but I feel like ‘No, I should not’. It’s very important to know what reality is and what actually people are thinking about you.
“It’s very important to be in touch with them as it’s easy to become dissociated with real word while sitting in Bollywood. In the industry, you have like-minded people and you feel safe. But that cannot be the real thing. It’s just your group,” Swara says.
