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Just like offline stalking, cyberstalking involves obsessive behaviour that causes people to fear for their safety or the safety of others. The only real difference is that cyberstalking is conducted remotely, and it thrives on technology that keeps evolving.
Clear laws would help address this challenge. Internet service providers and social media companies should also be involved in the solution. Regulations and education around online behaviour would help. And developing and/or leveraging technologies to target the unique and growing problem of cyberstalking could make a big difference.
During his talk at the International Forensic Psychiatry Lecture Series, William Fox explained the various forms of cyberstalking and the related risk factors, protective factors, and coping strategies. He also discussed the issues that stand in the way of effectively policing this behaviour, as well as potential solutions.
About Cyberstalking
Being cyberstalked can affect people on psychological, financial, and social levels. It can make them feel trapped, anxious, depressed, or unsafe. Sometimes it can even lead to thoughts of self-harm. A person being stalked may need to spend money to improve security, change their address, or get therapy. They may also lose touch with friends and feel isolated, lonely, or hopeless.
The impact varies, but the potential for severe negative outcomes, particularly psychological trauma, needs to be taken seriously by anyone working with an individual who has experienced it.
Reasons and Risks
Like stalking in real life, there is usually some kind of relationship between the person doing the stalking and the person being stalked. It may be related to a desire to start or maintain a relationship, anger about something the person did or said, or simply a wish to hurt or scare the person.
People who cyberstalk are often young and tech-savvy. They may have psychopathic or borderline personality traits, be sensitive to rejection, or have low self-control.
People of colour, people in the 2SLGBTQI+ community, and people in relationships face the highest risk of being cyberstalked. People with mental health challenges are also more vulnerable. Those who spend significant time online, use multiple social media accounts, talk with strangers online, or share personal details or photos further increase their risk.
Substance use can increase the likelihood of stalking or being stalked.
Solutions
Clear Laws, Regulations, and Accountability
The technology that supports cyberstalking keeps changing fast, and people can use it from anywhere in the world. The problem is complicated by the fact that laws vary from place to place and must keep catching up with new tactics. Consistent and regularly updated laws and regulations would help promote healthy online behaviour.
It would also help if people had consistent access to appropriate tools, like privacy controls and warnings about suspicious activity.
Internet and social media companies could offer stronger privacy settings, provide ways to report abuse, and take accountability for enabling harm to provide another layer of protection.
Education
Police need to rely on laws that clearly define cyberstalking and that apply everywhere. Both police and mental health professionals need training to recognize cyberstalking and better support people who are being stalked.
Ideally, public education should address digital security and cyberstalking behavioural patterns. It should also address protective measures and the safe use of technology and social media.
In addition, training should cover how to use antivirus software, data encryption, data monitoring, and virtual private networks (VPNs).
Using Artificial Intelligence
Cyberstalking leaves digital traces, but investigators must go through enormous amounts of data to find them. Using artificial intelligence (AI) and special software for data mining and data analysis to detect and analyze these digital traces could relieve much of the workload of law enforcement.
However, this approach can raise concerns about privacy and free speech. It also carries the risk of inaccuracies and false positives, so it is crucial that human oversight still be part of the solution.
Staying Safe Online
When people learn what cyberstalking is and how to recognize warning signs, they can protect themselves online and respond quickly if they feel threatened.
Keeping devices and software up to date and using strong privacy settings and antivirus programs can help people stay safe online.
Understanding effective coping strategies is also important. For example, confronting or arguing with a person who is cyberstalking may actually encourage the behaviour. The best response is to avoid all contact with the person. If the person being stalked must reply, they should send only one clear message telling the person to stop. Then they should make no further contact.
The best way to counter the growing threat of cyberstalking may be to teach people to protect their own privacy and to use discretion when using online tools and when reporting.
For more details, watch the recording of the February 26, 2026, lecture, “Cyberstalking and Social Media: Keeping Up with an Ever-changing Crime” on our website.
Written by Carolyn Johnstone and approved by William Fox
