Online Stalking and Bullying

With the drastic increase in the communication abilities associated with the internet, an increasing number of people have found themselves the victims of either cyber stalking or cyber bullying. These two situations can be damaging both to a person’s reputation and to his or her emotional state.

Cyber bullying, as defined by the National Crime Prevention Council, is when a person uses “the Internet, cell phones, or other devices” to “send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person.” StopCyberbullying.org, on the other hand, defines it as “a situation when a child, tween, or teen is repeatedly ‘tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed, or otherwise targeted’ by another child, tween, or teen” via text messaging, emails, instant messages, or any other form of digital technology.

Bullying via the digital world can be as simple as continuing to send emails to someone who has repeatedly asked not to be in further contact with the sender. Threats, sexual remarks, pejorative labels, and making a person a subject of ridicule on a forum are all recognized forms of cyber bullying.

When adults engage in similar behavior, it is known as cyber stalking or cyber harassment. These terms apply when it is an adult bullying an adult. Common tactics in this type of attack include vandalizing a search engine or online encyclopedia, threatening a victim’s earnings, employment, safety, and reputation.

A way of cyber stalking or cyber bullying is to reveal an individual’s real name or personal information online in a public area. This is not only cruel to a person but can also be a significant safety hazard.

Contact a Wausau Personal Injury Lawyer

If your emotional state has been damaged by someone’s cyber stalking or cyber bullying, contact the Wausau personal injury lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. at 800-242-2874.