According to the Pew Research Center, 59% of teenagers report having been cyber-stalked or bullied. Cyber-stalking, which is the purposeful use of using social media or an online platform to track and harass an individual, is an often overlooked form of stalking that can leave a person feeling paranoid, unsafe and angry.
Junior Shreya Kulkarni shares her experience with social media stating, “I started getting really weird texts from random people. They had my phone number and a picture of me that I posted on Instagram. They knew my name and they sent me inappropriate videos.”
Online stalking can manifest in many ways, some including unwanted texts, spreading of misinformation and threatening the target. No matter the extremity, victims report feeling unsafe and paranoid following these incidents. Altering their behavior, they attempt to deal with this by blocking out the perpetrators. Junior Victoria Beston shares her experience receiving threatening texts from a supposed online friend she had made, “At first, it really scared me because I was like ‘What if he shows up to my house?’ But then I realized that was ridiculous because he doesn’t know where you live. He didn’t threaten to do that [show up to my house] but he did threaten me in general.”
Eventually, she blocked the individual, however, she still felt shaken and paranoid. A person she believed was her friend had turned out to be someone completely entirely from what they claimed. Her experience made her realize that she needed to be more careful while spending time online.
Similarly, Kulkarni agrees, saying, “I think that anyone who’s handling it knows the trauma that you get within the first month after.” For Kulkarni, her experience did not impact her as much in the long-term, however, it left her reeling in the first few months after.
Online stalking is different from in-person stalking as it often occurs through social media platforms and leaves more lasting evidence. Beston and Kulkarni both express how all forms of stalking are harmful, but online stalking teaches people to distrust social media and information found online.
Kulkarni adds, “It made me realize how easy it was for someone to get information about you, and you might not know that it’s people close to you or people that go to your school that might be giving out this information to other people or using it in inappropriate ways.”
Online stalking is not always taken as seriously as other forms of stalking, as well, which Beston feels further isolates victims from sharing their experience. She says, “In person-stalking is more dangerous to you, but I’d say online, in some ways, is worse because everything lasts. Once they have something, you really can’t get it back and then they can hold it against you. I feel like people take in-person stalking more seriously, so it’s easier to get help from that.”
There is no question about all forms of stalking being harmful, however, they each can have differing implications for a victim. With online stalking, many victims believe they will not be taken seriously. This fear can drive them to keep their experience to themself and dissuade them from reaching out for help. Despite this, Beston and Kulkarni state that social media is a good resource when used in the right way. Beston expresses her opinion, saying, “I’ve had some negative experiences with social media, but I don’t think it’s inherently bad.” Social media and the internet have the ability to foster positive relations, but it is important to consider the risks that accompany them.
Given the risks, it is crucial to establish safe communities for victims to share their experiences and seek help. As resources become more attainable, victims do not have to feel isolated in these situations. In fact, Kulkarni’s parting words advise, “If you’re going through it alone, I would recommend talking to trusted friends. If you don’t have any trusted friends that you feel comfortable with, tell a teacher or counselor and have them help you walk through the steps of getting back to a normal place.”
