In our lives, there are certain learning experiences that
change how we see things. One of these experiences happened to me when I was
fifteen years old. In high school, I was a happy-go-lucky girl who cared only
about cheerleading and family. I believed that all people were innately good,
until I met someone I'll call "Joe Nolife". Despite a bad reputation, I
believed that this person just needed to be given a chance – so I befriended
him.
I talked to Joe in the same way I talked to everyone else,
through AOL instant messenger. At first, Joe seemed like a genuinely nice
person. I was happy to have proven everyone else wrong! After a few weeks,
however, my friends at school were not pleased with me. Apparently, Joe was telling
them things that I had supposedly said about them.
Things got ugly to say the least. Not only were my friends
upset, but rumors were circulating about me. Sadly, the "nice" person that I
had befriended turned very cruel. Instead of talking about movies and music,
Joe took every opportunity to cut me down in every aspect. He drove by my
house, threatened me, and continuously spread degrading rumors.
After graduating from high school, I moved away and thought
I'd said "good riddance" to Joe Nolife. But stalkers don't give up so easily.
Seven years, five screen names, and 200 miles later, the issue is less of a
problem – but not gone. A few months ago, I received a message from Joe Nolife
via a social networking site. These sites have made it possible for people like
Joe to continue stalking.
An Existing Problem
Aggravated by New Technology
Because of the popularity of the Internet and other methods
of electronic communication, "cyberstalking" is not uncommon. Social networks
and other Web sites allow you to put out a lot of information about yourself –
even down to your favorite food! By using search engines, Stalkers can find
this information about a person to use it to cause mental distress.
Cyberstalkers don't necessarily know their victims; rather,
they can be people who find you through the Internet. Some victims of
cyberstalking may not even know they're being watched. Others are the victims
of live-chat harassment.
Internet bullying is different than taking the occasional
jab at someone for fun. Often, cyberstalkers will try to gather information
about their target in order to spread false accusations. Other stalking methods
include encouraging the victim's friends to join the conversation and attacking
the person's belongings.
Grave Consequences
The ever-growing Internet is making it possible for people
to get more information about whomever or whatever they want. Many websites
allow you to create detailed profiles that anyone can access. Even with privacy
settings, the cyberstalker still has access to basic information. While it may
start out to be harmless - as in the case of Joe Nolife- things can escalate
quickly.
An example of this is the 2006 death of an American teenager
named Megan Meier. After Megan had a falling out with a friend, the former
friend's mother created a false alias of a teenage boy who became friends with
Megan. When the messages turned nasty and Megan was told that the "world would
be a better place without her", she took her own life.
New forms of communication are always going to have
drawbacks. The Internet age has made it easy for people to connect - sometimes
too easily. I never know when or how I am going to be contacted by Joe Nolife,
but it's always something that I have to think about when going to my hometown.
Whenever I signup for something online, whether it's the New York Times
or MySpace, the first thing I do is adjust the privacy settings accordingly.
My advice is to surf safely and encourage your families to
do the same. If someone is continually giving you a hard time, report it. Many
governments have begun passing legislation about cyberstalking. If you are a
victim, remember that you are not in this alone.
Resources:
http://www.google.com/search?q=cyber+stalking&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&wikititle=1&q=Suicide%20of%20Megan%20Meier
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/cyberstalking.htm
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