When we think of stalking, a picture already begins to formulate in our mind. Someone, creeping in the shadows, lurking through our windows, harassing messages/items at work, home or school. As technology advances so does crime and how its committed. Stalking is no exception to that rule, as a matter of fact, it strives off of the new technology.
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'Cyber Stalking: The Effects of Technology on Our Privacy'
Stalking is defined as “the act or crime of willfully and repeatedly following or harassing another person in circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to fear injury or death especially because of express or implied threats.” In simplified terms, stalking refers to any action that affects a person’s sense of safety. Nowhere in that definition, does it refer to use of technology to commit the act of stalking. With the release of the Internet, social media, and other forms of social communication, this opens up a new form for stalking. It is hard to identify stalking through online forums, otherwise known as cyberstalking. A message sent through social media might seem innocent, but if it is persistent messaging that can be considered stalking. However, most people see that way because it is done online and not in person. The definition of stalking does not allow room for cyberstalking to be ignored. Regardless if the person is not be stalked in person, their safety is being compromised.
With stalking, most of us believe that only women suffer from this crime. With the advancement if technology, it shows that men have a higher chance of being cyberstalked than women. This fact comes from the notion that the actions taken by a man are seen as criminal than if the same actions were done by a woman; Bluntly stated, there is a double-standard when it comes to crime. There is not only a difference between male and female victims but a difference between who commits the act of stalking and cyberstalking. Society believes that the acts of stalking are committed by strangers or crazed fans, but in reality, just like the act of rape, the perpetrators of the acts of stalking and cyberstalking are usually someone the victims know quite well. Whether they know them as friends, acquaintances, or even significant partners, does not make the crime any less scary or hurtful.
The act of stalking and cyberstalking are crimes that many don’t take seriously. However, the effect that these crimes have on their victims are very real and very serious. Starting with the fact that the victims have to alter the daily routines of their lives, victims can suffer from emotional and/or psychological distress. Victims can also suffer from financial distress and work-related distress. Overall, victims of stalking and cyberstalking experience a severe decline in their way of life. With that being said, we see a huge gap in the reporting of stalking and cyberstalking. Victims of these crimes do not report it because they either believe the crime is not that serious to report, or that the police would not be able to do much to help. Victims also seek help from friends and family first as their support system. Victims simply don’t report the crime because they don’t want to aggravate the stalker or make the advancements worse.
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Whatever we post on the internet is out there forever once its posted. That is no excuse for perpetrators of these crimes to go forth and commit them. As potential victims we can do a few things to protect ourselves. First and foremost, we should be careful on posting our locations online. This can turn the act of stalking into an even more serious crime, such as rape or even murder. We should also be careful of the information that we post online, such as where we work, our family, our school, and places we regularly attend.
References
- Alexy, E. M., Burgess, A. W., Baker, T., & Smoyak, S. A. (2005, August). Perceptions of Cyberstalking Among College Students. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.596.9232&rep=rep1&type=pdf.
- Stalking Legal Definition. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.merriam- webster.com/legal/stalking.
- Truman, J. (2010). Examining Intimate Partner Stalking And Use Of Technology In Stalking Victimization. Retrieved from https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5214&context=etd.
