Devastating effects of cyberstalking

We know that actual stalking and cyberstalking are crimes occurring in contemporary society. One in four stalking victims reports some form of cyber harassment. But did you know that cyberstalking can be more devastating (and more expensive) than having a “traditional” stalker? Several recent studies support this relationship.

Consider these statistics presented by Dr. Elizabeth Carll in her report Electronic Harassment and Cyberstalking: Intervention, Prevention and Public Policy presented at the 119th convention of the American Psychological Society.

– 40 percent of women have experienced dating violence via social media, which can include harassing text messages and disturbing information about them posted on social media sites.

– 20 percent of online stalkers use social networking to stalk their victims.

– 34 percent of female college students and 14 percent of male students have broken into a romantic partner’s email. (Statistics retrieved from http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/67756/Dealing_with_the_cyberworlds_dark_side.html on 3/13/15)

Due to the ubiquitous nature of the cyber environment, with access available 24/7, we can appreciate how the anxiety associated with cyberstalking can escalate. The financial cost of combating cyberstalking can also be high.

In Titania’s Suitor, the protagonist, Charlotte Stone, isn’t sure if the person cyberstalking her is someone she knows (possibly her estranged husband), a colleague who has indicated romantic interest in her, a jealous researcher who could be anywhere on the planet, or someone else. While her account is fictional, it was inspired by a true story.

For more information on cyberstalking see:

http://tinyurl.com/oultpqr

http://tinyurl.com/n78znlz

Titania’s Suitor Trailer:

http://tinyurl.com/kv6bd9c