What Sort of Harassment Can Happen Online?

Due to the accessibility of information found on the Internet, Internet harassment is unfortunately becoming a common crime. Internet harassment can occur in many ways. Forms of Internet harassment tend to include a series of unwanted e-mails, messages, photos, videos, or anything done on the Internet that could bring harm to the harasser's victim. Many times the harassment can start on the Internet and progress into a physical stalking case. Harassers and/or stalkers can easily obtain personal information about their victim by way of the Internet in order to locate or have contact with them. Harassment can often be linked to criminals that commit cyberstalking. This often occurs when the stalker begins to have an infatuation with an individual(s) in either a positive or negative manner. That infatuation causes them to be too persistent in their efforts of harassing them, while using the Internet as a tool to do so. Cases involving cyberstalking have progressed into serious criminal offenses. For example, in 1999 one of the country’s first cyberstalking laws went into effect when five women were murdered as a result of cyberstalking. Other states began to follow suit and also activated harassment laws that prohibit stalking and harassment on the Internet. As more victims of Internet harassment come forward, laws are put into effect to protect victims and/or potential victims of Internet harassment. The harassment law tends to vary from State to State and there is currently not an existing Federal harassment law for people experiencing Internet harassment who are over the age of sixteen (a Federal harassment law is in place for minors under the age of sixteen). However, there are ways to avoid becoming a victim of Internet harassment. One of the first and most obvious steps that can be taken is to not give your personal information out too freely. Avoid listing your personal e-mail address, phone number, home address, etc., on any Internet sites. Also, keep away from anything that may be deemed as "suggestive" or drawing too much attention to oneself. If anyone contacts you and it can be considered a form of Internet harassment, do whatever can be done in order to block them and report them to your Internet service provider immediately. If the harassment progresses, find out your State's particular harassment law under your local judicial branch and/or courthouse.