Stalking is a dangerous and scary thing to go through. It can leave victims feeling paranoid, vulnerable, and filled with anxiety wondering if they are constantly being watched. If you are struggling with this type of harassment and want to learn how to stop someone from stalking you online, keep reading to find tips on how to overcome this form of digital harassment.
What is Internet Stalking?
Internet stalking is when an individual obsessively messages, calls and posts about another person online without their consent. Stalking typically starts as something innocent, like a person piquing an interest in another individual and wanting to build a connection. However, things will take a turn once a victim starts to receive dozens of calls and messages, and posts on their social media accounts to get attention. This can turn into harassment once a victim’s request of ending communication and the boundaries they set are ignored.
How Do You Know If Someone is Stalking You Online?
It is fairly easy and recognizable once someone begins to stalk you online. Here are some tell-tale signs of an online stalker.
- Repeatedly sending messages or emails without a response
- Sending emails that contain inappropriate content such as threats, insults, or sexual advances
- Unwanted contact through social media accounts or other websites
- Attempting to contact you after being asked not to do so
- Making attempts to find out your personal information such as your address or phone number
- Monitoring your activities online by viewing your profile multiple times or leaving comments on your posts
- Threatening physical harm if you do not respond in a certain way
- Attempting to access private information such as passwords, bank accounts, etc.
These behaviors may seem innocent at first but can quickly escalate if left unchecked. If you feel like someone is exhibiting any of these behaviors towards you, it is important to take action and report them immediately. Taking the necessary steps will help ensure your safety and peace of mind.
How to Stop Someone from Stalking You Online?
Once you have identified that you are being targeted by a stalker, it’s important to take action right away. Your first step should be to block and report the person who is stalking you on all of your social media accounts or websites where they may have contacted or followed you. This will prevent them from sending any further messages or posts directed at you. Additionally, consider changing all of your passwords so that the stalker cannot gain access to any of your accounts again in the future. It’s also important for safety reasons that if possible do not share any personal information about yourself with anyone who does not need it; this could potentially give the stalker ammunition for further harassment or stalking behavior towards you in the future. Finally, if the situation becomes too serious or threatening then consider contacting local law enforcement for help and advice on how best to proceed safely about dealing with an online stalker.
Conclusions
No one should have to live in fear of being stalked online — but unfortunately, it’s an issue many people face every day. By learning how to stop someone from stalking you online such as setting strong passwords and being careful about what we post online, we can all stay safe from potential threats and keep our identities secure while using the internet. If you ever suspect that someone is stalking you online, remember that help is available; don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance if needed!
