Cyberstalking Impact on the Physical, Social and Psychological Lives of Teenagers - Essay Example

Introduction Cyber assault is a general or umbrella term used to refer to any kind of assault or offensive contact that may be made by one individual categorized as criminal/ delinquents with another individual who may be categorized as a victim and this contact which is offensive in nature is made with the assistance of networking technologies. There are several kinds of cyber assaults already existing in the environment and these assaults are further expanding with the expansion in the base of technological equipments that can be used to maintain a network based contact. These assaults include: cyber sexual assaults, bullying, stalking and various other assaults. There is no one single generally as well as uniformly accepted definition of the term cyberstalking as the ways of conducting this deviant acts have increased and there are several variations in the way this deviant act may be conducted. According to Bocij, cyberstalking is referred to as “various behaviors that may be committed by an individual or a group while utilizing information and communication technologies to bother another group as well as individual (Bocji 14). Cyberstalking has emerged as a very huge issue and is targeting a very huge population since the number of internet users and communication device users have increased. Among the population that is at a higher risk of experiencing cyberstalking as well as committing this deviant act includes the younger generation of society as they form the highest percentage of internet users (Madden 1). Cyberstalking is a problematic issue because it is damaging the teenagers psychologically, socially as well as physically. Why Is It A Problem As stated earlier the major portion of the population that is using the internet comprises of those who are referred to as the youth of the society and the future of the society is dependent on this portion of the population. Major chunks of the population who experience this issue and who are conducting the act of cyberstalking even belong to this population. Both the victims and the criminals involved in the act of cyberstalking are being physically, socially as well as psychologically damaged and if this portion of the society continues to be harmed, the future prospectus of the society does not seems to be quite positive. Cyberstalking is a huge problem as the number of ways through which this deviant act can take place is increasing and this form of stalking is quite difficult to identify. According to CNN, Cyberangels is a company that is devoted to help the victims of internet and the company reports that on daily basis they receive around 500 complaints regarding this issue (cnn.com 1). There is very little data available on the extent of this issue, but this issue does exist and is on a rise. The problematic nature of the issue can be justified through the several cases of cyberstalking and how these cases have impacted the victims as well as the offenders. According to Alvarez, a girl named Rebecca Sedwick who was only 12 years old became a victim of cyberstalking when she took her own life and became the youngest victim of this issue (Alvarez 1). History There is a hand in hand relationship between the history of stalking that is conducted with the means of internet and the advancement in internet based technologies and communication devices. Over the years several communication devices have evolved including the computers as well as the cellular phones and slowly and gradually these devices went on to become a necessity of life rather than a luxury. These devices became easily accessible by the masses as the demand for such devices increased and this increase in demand was backed by the various benefits offered by these devices, these benefits may include speed of communication, entertainment and business benefits. These devices offered various features that added to the wellbeing of mankind, but these devices even had their side effects. These devices were adopted by both who benefited from such devices and who were looking for new and subtle ways to harm others. These devices provided the benefit of remaining anonymous and unknown to stalkers. The internet as well as the mobile phone became accessible to the masses during the period of 1990s and it would be correct to point this period as the birth of cyberstalking (Simon 587). Cyberstalking may have been initiated during the period of 1990s, but the era in which it started escalating and became noticeable to the public is said to be the 21st century as during the period of the 21st century the number of reported as well as the number of unreported incidences of this act increased steadily (Simon 587). Current Status Research conducted on cyberstalking even reveals that those being victimized mostly comprise of the female gender and cyberstalking is mostly a result of a break in an intimate relationship or a pursuit for a relationship. Spitzberg conducted a study during the period of 2002 and categorized stalking behavior as obsessive relational intrusion because it involves the act of an individual trying to communicate with another individual out of love or because he/she either was or wants to be in an intimate relationship with the individual being stalked (Spitzberg(b) 74). The issue of cyberstalking is increasing at a very steady rate and the consequences of cyberstalking have been heavily reported by both print media as well as different researches being conducted. Sheridan conducted a study to figure out the difference between online stalking and offline stalking and figured out that the impact of cyberstalking experienced by victims was similar to the consequences experienced by victims of offline stalking (Sheridan 633). A study conducted on college students on both stalkers as well as victims of stalking conducted by Spitzberg revealed that those who were victimized reported that their experience of being stalking was traumatic in nature and as traumatic as the incident of being harmed or victimized by a crash of Boeing 737-2D6C (Spitzberg(a) 274). In the study researchers even figured out psychological consequences experienced by the victims of stalking of the study conducted by Sheridan. These psychological consequences included: paranoia, stress as well as anxiety (Spitzberg(a) 274). Some of the negative impacts on the psychological wellbeing of the victims of cyberstalking outlined by the researcher included feat, anxiety as well as anger (Sheridan 633). Spitzberg even figured out consequences of stalking that were social in nature and registered these consequences in a separate cluster which the researchers named as social health (Spitzberg(a) 274). The researchers stated that victims of stalking reported that due to their experience they were facing social death or in other words they were experiencing alienation from society as a result of stalking. The researcher even identified several negative social impact of cyberstalking on the victims, these includes: distrust, loss of contact with friends as well as family members and breakup in essential relationships (Sheridan 633). The researcher even identified certain physical issues experienced by victims, these issues included self harm, loss in appetite which ultimately lead to loss of appetite as well as attempted incidences of suicide (Sheridan 633). Spitzberg’s studies even reveal that the victims of stalking experience suicidal thoughts and they have even tried to take their own lives (Spitzberg(a) 274). The issue of cyberstalking is a boundary less problem since the internet is being throughout the world and all the internet users are at a potential risk of being victimized by cyberstalking or even participate as a cyberstalker. Different nations have realized the severity of the problem and are now taking steps to counter the problem. Although several measures are being taken but there is still a long way to travel to get in complete control of the problem. One nation that is actively trying to control the problem is the United States of America; they have brought in new laws as well as amended previous ones to cover the issue of cyberstalking under legal rules and regulations. As early as the period of 1993, the first state that recognized the problem of cyberstalking and made rules and regulations to counter it was Michigan. Under this state’s criminal law, harassment has been defined as activities conducted against a particular victim, which includes contact that is continuous in nature and even unwanted. They have added contact made through emails or any means of electronic communication under contact that may be unwanted in nature. As a consequence of these laws a man named Andrew was charged for stalking a woman who he made first contact on a dating website and was later sending her emails and was harassing her (Deirmenjian 410). Possible Solutions Since the population that is at the highest risk of experiencing as well as being victims of cyberstalking and cyberstalkers are those who are in their youth, it is essential for different stakeholders including educationists, parents as well as the government take strict measures to counter the issue. According to Alvarez, it is the job of the parents to keep an eye on their child’s behavior and should try to help their children in incidences such as cyber bullying (Alvarez 1). Alvarez states that although the mother of the child who committed suicide due to cyberstalking helped her initially, she failed to figure out that the problem still existed even after measures had been taken. Educational institutes need to take this matter seriously as they can make a major contribution in countering these issues. They need to provide education to both the students and their parents regarding this activity and how it impacts the wellbeing of the child (Perren 289). Such educational programs will make parents more aware regarding the cues they need to know in order to figure out whether their child is a victim or even a stalker. These educational programs might even prove to be quite helpful to the children who are at risk of experiencing cyberstalking. These programs will help them figure out methods they can use to prevent themselves from being stalked and if stalking is occurring, they can take help from their elders as well as the law. Future of Cyberstalking Stalking is quite an old phenomenon, but with the passage of time, its definition as well as methods of victimization is increasing day by day. Internet and its features provided stalkers a new venue for stalking which seems to be less threatening to the stalker. The internet since its inception has provided a heaven to the stalker. Initially, stalkers used email system to conduct their devious acts, but now there are several other outlets over the internet through which stalking occur. The incident of Rebecca Sedwick reveals how difficult it is becoming for parents to keep an eye on what their children are doing over the internet or whether they are being harmed through its use (Alvarez 1). Various social networking websites such as the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram are some of the very few outlets that are popular among cyber stalkers. New applications offered by mobile phone companies such as the Whatsapp, Viber, link.fm and several such small apps which are increasing on a daily basis is making life easier for the stalkers and difficult for parents to protect their children (Alvarez 1). The governments throughout the world are trying to figure out ways to deal with the issue, but they are lacking behind in competition against those who continue to provide safe heavens to stalkers. Conclusion Cyberstalking came into existence during the period of 1990s as during this period internet started becoming accessible to the mass population. Its incidences started elevating during the 21st century as the number of internet users increased and platforms through which this act could be conducted even increased. The population that is at a higher risk of being cyberstalked and the population of cyberstalkers mostly includes the youth of the society as they are they form the majority of the population that uses internet. Cyberstalking impacts the physical, social and psychological lives of teenagers in a negative manner. The victims of cyberstalking experience trauma, stress and anxiety, they face issues in their social relationships and they even experience suicidal thoughts and as a result a certain population has attempted suicide and has even taken away their lives. Governments are taking measures to counter this problem and huge contributions from the end of other stakeholders including parents, educationists and students is required to put an end to this issue. Works Cited "Cyberangel, Parry Aftab, on cyberstalking." CNN. Cable News Network, 15 June 2000. Web. 1 Jan. 2014. . Alvarez, lizette. "Girl’s Suicide Points to Rise in Apps Used by Cyberbullies." The New York Times. N.p., 13 Sept. 2013. Web. 2 Jan. 2014. . Bocij, Paul. Cyberstalking: harassment in the Internet age and how to protect your family. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 2004. Print. Deirmenjian, JM. "Stalking in Cyberspace." The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. 27.3 (1999): 407-13. Print. Madden, Mary. "Teens, Social Media, and Privacy." Part 1: Teens and Social Media Use. N.p., 21 May 2013. Web. 1 Jan. 2014. . Perren, S, L Corcoran, Guckin C. Mc, H Cowie, F Dehue, T Vollink, D Garcia, A Sevcikova, and P Tsatsou. "Tackling Cyberbullying: Review of Empirical Evidence Regarding Successful Responses by Students, Parents, and Schools." International Journal of Conflict and Violence. 6.2 (2012): 283-293. Print. Sheridan, L. P, and T Grant. "Is Cyberstalking Different?" Psychology, Crime & Law. 13.6 (2007): 627-640. Print. Simon, Robert I., and Liza H. Gold. The American Psychiatric Publishing textbook of forensic psychiatry. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Pub., 2010. Print. Spitzberg(a), Brian H. "The Tactical Topography of Stalking Victimization and Management."Trauma, Violence & Abuse: a Review Journal. 3.4 (2002): 261-288. Print. Spitzberg(b), Brian H, and Greg Hoobler. "Cyberstalking and the Technologies of Interpersonal Terrorism." New Media & Society. 4.1 (2002): 71-92. Print. Read More