CyberStalker preys on their victims through chat rooms, message boards, discussion forums, and email. “CyberStalking takes many forms such as: threatening or obscene e-mail; spamming (in which a stalker sends a victim a multitude of junk e-mail); live chat harassment or flaming (online verbal abuse); leaving improper messages on message boards or in guest books; sending electronic viruses; sending unsolicited e-mail; tracing another person's computer and Internet activity, and electronic identity theft.” (The National Center for Victims of Crime)
CyberStalking is still just as frightening to its victims regardless of it taking place online or not. It causes emotional turmoil and may lead to physical harm. In some cases it will evolve into off-line stalking with threats, physical abuse, excessive phone calls, vandalism, and trespassing.
CyberStalking is not gender, age, or race specific. According to a study of cases done by WHO@ (Working to Halt Online Abuse) in 2010 with a sample of 349 cases:
Victim Gender: 73% female & 27% male
Harasser Gender: 36% female, 44.5% male, 3% multiple/gang, & 16.5% unknown
Victim Age: 0.25% under 18, 41% 18-30yrs, 29% 31-40yrs, 27.5% 41+ & 2.25% unknown
Victim Race: 66.5% Caucasian, 5% Hispanic, 6.25% Asian, 6% Afro-American, 1.25% Native Americans, 0.25% East Indian, & 14.75% unknown
There are 16 states that don't have some sort of the CyberStalking laws, they are: Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, & Wisconsin. All of the other states include electronic communication into their laws, while in the states that don’t have the electronic clause, it would be harder to prosecute (if at all able) a CyberStalker. (National Conference of State Legislatures)
North Carolina- Matthew L. Nanney, 17, of Arapahoe, and Tony R. Bloomberg, 18, of Grantsboro, were each charged with CyberStalking, a Class 2 misdemeanor, in connection with an incident that occurred on Feb. 18. They boys had set up a Facebook account to annoy and harass their interim principal. The account was made in the Principal's name and contained several negative comments about students.
Arkansas- Denise New was charged with mandatory anger management and parenting classes after she was convicted of locking her son out of his Facebook and making rude and derogatory comments in her son's name, in April 2010. New lost custody of her son and was mandated to complete his classes before seeing him again.
Seattle- Two middle school girls were charged on Tuesday with CyberStalking and first degree computer trespassing for allegedly posting sexually explicitly photos to a third girl's Facebook page. The girls also had supposedly used the victim's email to send out instant messages soliciting sex. The ages of the girls are 11 & 12. Article
There has to be a change!!!