Cyberstalking is aided by social media on college campuses

Alexis Neely
Staff Writer

With the prevalent force of advanced technology and the growing dependency on the Internet for social purposes, obsessions have taken on a whole new form.  Cyberstalking.

According to research conducted by campussafetymagazine.com, 6 million women and men in the United States are victims of stalking each year and 1 in 6 women and 1 in 19 men have experienced stalking victimization during their lifetime in which they felt very fearful or believed that they or someone close to them would be harmed or killed.  More than half of female victims and more than one-third of male victims of stalking say they were stalked before the age of 25; about 1 in 5 female victims and 1 in 14 male victims experience stalking between the ages of 11 and 17.

According to the Jackson State University Student Handbook: Section 4.20 STALKING. A course of conduct, whether electronic or physical, directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person fear. This conduct includes, but is not limited to, electronic communication, third party communication and/or an individual’s behaviors.  SANCTION: Fine $200 – $500 + Probation and Counseling Consultation; Suspension; Indefinite Suspension; Expulsion

Laquala Coleman, Associate Dean of Students stated that any student who feels they are a victim of stalking should make a report to JSU Public Safety immediately.

“The Division of Academic and Student Affairs works hand in hand with Public Safety on all crime related issues involving crimes against students,” said Coleman.

Angela Butler, JSU Public Safety Captain said that location and whether or not the perpetrator or victim is a student determine who handles stalking cases.

“It depends on where this incident has occurred. Just because they are a JSU student does not mean they must come to us to report Stalking and/or cyber stalking.”

Butler stated that some cases are referred to the Jackson Police Department.

According to the Summary of Reported Campus Crime report published by JSU Public Safety, in 2013, there were 8 stalking complaints filed at JSU. Six of the 8 were cyberstalking complaints. This was a 100 percent increase because no reports were filed for any type of stalking in 2012.

Instagram, a popular photo sharing social media app, has become a host for the colloquial terms “MCM” (Man Crush Monday) and “WCW” (Woman Crush Wednesday), where users post pictures of their male crushes on Monday and female crushes on Wednesday. It is all fun and an adorable sign of affection when two people are equally enthralled with one another, but what happens when this admiration is not mutual between the two people involved? What becomes of a fascination that is, in essence, not a two-way street?

Lurking is a behavioral habit known as continuously checking someone’s various social media outlets, and spying on them online.

“I think everyone lurks a little bit on the person they’re feeling to get a better view of who that person is,” said Henry Washington, a junior business major from Jackson, Miss.

Lurking however, can more often than not result in unwanted emotional turmoil known as ‘being in your feelings’.  Not to mention, it can be pretty embarrassing when someone sees your search history on the Explore page of Instagram and discovers whose pages you have been lurking!

Students should also recognize when enough is enough. There are some individuals who have difficulty in determining when their advances are becoming a little bit too insistent.  Be clear to that individual that their advances are unwanted. If they continue, report this behavior to the proper authorities.