Facebook(2004) currently contains more than 500 million members and is the most popular of the social networking sites Lyndon et al (2011). Facebook(2004) can impact a relationship in many different ways. According to Lyndon, Bonds-Raacke, & Cratty (2011), one of the motivations for using Facebook is to Facebook stalk other users which means to excessively monitor someone’s activity online via their profile. This is done to manipulate, harass, and convey messages across Facebook(2004). Lyndon et al (2011) states that as we are more exposed to more ways of communication, we increase our chances that these new types of technology become means of intrusion and surveillance. In the article, Lyndon et.al (2011) performs a study measuring the COP (cyber obsessional pursuit) and offline ORI (obsessive relational intrusion) of cyber stalkers. E-mail and instant messaging are the two most preferred methods of contacting a victim of stalking.
Lyndon et.al (2011) describes cyber obsessional pursuit (COP) as using technology-based stalking behaviors to harass and demand intimacy from another person. COP may lead to cyber-stalking if one’s behaviors are repeated and severe enough to cause the victim fear or feel harassed/threatened. Lyndon et.al (2011) found that cyber-stalkers that stalk victims via COP are more likely to stalk victims through ORI behaviors, such as sending unwanted gifts, contacting the victim through other methods of communication, and following their offline activities.
A survey was sent out online and the participants had to meet a few requirements. They had to have been in a serious relationship, had to have an account with Facebook, and their ex’s had to have an account on Facebook. There were 411 people who met these requirements and were between the ages of 18 and 32. The survey measured the frequency participants used Facebook to communicate with, harass, or monitor their ex’s. COP was measured by a COP scale and ORI was measured with an ORI scale.
As for the results, Lyndon et al (2011) found that the participants surveyed had reported spending a moderate amount of time viewing and commenting on their friends’ profile pages and less time updating their own profile page. The profile security levels were set to friends of friends and participants did not reveal personal information. 86.1% said they only revealed a little information. 67.3% reported contacting their ex over Facebook after they broke up and then 58.6% reported occasionally contacting their ex. The use of social networking can allow for easier access to cyber stalking. Lyndon et.al (2011) states that these online interactions can be anonymous and inconspicuous. The anonymity of using Facebook(2004) allows the cyber stalker to get personal information without the individual ever knowing. Facebook(2004) also has new members joining daily, which leads to more potential victims of cyber-stalking. Social networking sites such as Facebook(2004) , have made cyber stalking a little easier and harder to avoid for the victim. (Lyndon et al, 2011).
Lyndon et.al (2011) describes cyber obsessional pursuit (COP) as using technology-based stalking behaviors to harass and demand intimacy from another person. COP may lead to cyber-stalking if one’s behaviors are repeated and severe enough to cause the victim fear or feel harassed/threatened. Lyndon et.al (2011) found that cyber-stalkers that stalk victims via COP are more likely to stalk victims through ORI behaviors, such as sending unwanted gifts, contacting the victim through other methods of communication, and following their offline activities.
A survey was sent out online and the participants had to meet a few requirements. They had to have been in a serious relationship, had to have an account with Facebook, and their ex’s had to have an account on Facebook. There were 411 people who met these requirements and were between the ages of 18 and 32. The survey measured the frequency participants used Facebook to communicate with, harass, or monitor their ex’s. COP was measured by a COP scale and ORI was measured with an ORI scale.
As for the results, Lyndon et al (2011) found that the participants surveyed had reported spending a moderate amount of time viewing and commenting on their friends’ profile pages and less time updating their own profile page. The profile security levels were set to friends of friends and participants did not reveal personal information. 86.1% said they only revealed a little information. 67.3% reported contacting their ex over Facebook after they broke up and then 58.6% reported occasionally contacting their ex. The use of social networking can allow for easier access to cyber stalking. Lyndon et.al (2011) states that these online interactions can be anonymous and inconspicuous. The anonymity of using Facebook(2004) allows the cyber stalker to get personal information without the individual ever knowing. Facebook(2004) also has new members joining daily, which leads to more potential victims of cyber-stalking. Social networking sites such as Facebook(2004) , have made cyber stalking a little easier and harder to avoid for the victim. (Lyndon et al, 2011).