Definition -
Cyberstalking, Cyberharrassments and Cyberstalking
Cyberstalking. Cyberstalking is the use of
the Internet, email or other electronic communications to stalk,
and generally refers to a pattern of threatening or malicious
behaviors. Cyberstalking may be considered the most
dangerous of the three types of Internet harassment, based on a posing
credible threat of harm. Sanctions range from misdemeanors to felonies.
Cyberharassment. Cyberharassment differs from Cyberstalking in that it is
generally defined as not involving a credible threat. Cyberharassment usually
pertains to threatening or harassing email messages, instant messages, or
to blog entries or websites dedicated solely to tormenting an
individual. Some states approach cyberharrassment by including language
addressing electronic communications in general harassment statutes, while
others have created stand-alone cyberharassment statutes.
Cyberbullying. Cyberbullying and cyberharassment are sometimes used
interchangeably, but for the purposes of this chart, cyberbullying is used
for electronic harassment or bullying among minors within a school
context. Recent cyberbullying legislation reflects a trend of
makaing school districts the policy enforcers of such misconduct. As a
result, statutes establish the infrastructure for schools to handle this
issue by amending existing school anti-bullying policies to include cyberbullying
or electronic harassment among school age children. The majority of these state
laws establish sanctions for all forms of cyberbullying on school
property, school busses and official school functions. However, some
have also extended sanctions to include cyberbullying activities that
originate off-campus, believing that activities off-campus can have a
chilling and disruptive effect on children's learning environment. The
sanctions for cyberbullying range from school/parent interventions to misdemeanors
and felonies with detention, suspension, and expulsion in between. Some of
these laws promote Internet safety education or curricula that covers
cyberbullying.
