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Facebook stalking is a method of gathering information about someone through information posted on an individual’s profile. Facebook allows users to view pictures of the person being stalked through posts informing the social network that this person has uploaded more photos. Access to a person’s wall allows user’s to view the person’s recent activity as well as any status changes they may have made.

Background The Internet has become the ideal instrument for individuals who wish to intimidate, threaten, and harass others. Cyberstalking has been around for years, but it wasn’t until recently that Facebook stalking has become an issue. It all began in 2004 when Facebook took center stage on the Internet. It almost immediately became the home for cyberstalkers. Facebook users began to surf the site and realized how much knowledge they could obtain by looking at an individual’s profile A typical Facebook profile has the potential to display interests, education, work background, and contact information. Basically, anyone could find out a lot of information about you just by looking at your Facebook page.

The creators of Facebook have installed many privacy settings to limit what some users on Facebook can see. However, this doesn’t stop some cyberstalkers. Considering there are over 500 million Facebook users, there is always the possibility of having an unwanted visitor on your page.

Purpose The main purpose of Facebook stalking is to discover the true personality of an individual. Anyone can find information about someone on Facebook that would take you months to find out in person. As Corrie Pikul says, we Facebook stalk because “It makes us feel like Nancy Drew.” For example: A girl who is thinking about dating a certain guy may search his facebook wall to see how many girls he talks to each day, what he talks about, and find out whether he can be considered the “boyfriend type”.

Factors to being stalked Many factors contribute to someone being Facebook stalked. Everywhere on Facebook there is a little piece of information about you in which someone can learn and gather more information about you. Some of the factors that allow people to become Facebook stalked are as follows: Your info page, which people will find information ranging from date of birth, phone number, along, with email address. Sharing and uploading photos is another way to be stalked. Lastly your status can allow Facebook stalkers to know where you are at all times. According to an article by Kathy Kristof of Yahoo finance wrote in an article the six things that you should not put on Facebook (these tips allow one to be Facebook stalked): 1. Your birth and place 2. Vacation Plans 3. Home Address 4. Confessionals 5. Password Clues and 6. Risky Behavior. All of these elements can lead to one becoming a victim of Facebook stalking.

Types of Facebook Stalking

-Casual Stalking-the most innocent of the creeps, will occasionally "like" a post or picture.

-Consistent Stalking-this person will wish their close friends "happy birthday" every year, and comment on others' status.

-Conniving Stalking-they will "like" every single picture, post, status update, friend acceptance, and info change. They assume it's not official until it's on Facebook.

-Cool-creeper stalking-always find pictures and will judge people based on their stalking research.

-Ex Stalking-This is the most extreme of the creepers. They will do pretty much anything to ensure they are happier than the ex after the break up.

Preventing Facebook Stalking
There are many measures that Facebook users can take to eliminate the possibility of becoming Facebook stalked. First users should block all pictures and information others can see or gain knowledge about the individual from their profile, this will ensure that people you do not know or who are not your Facebook friends from being able to stalk you. Second before beginning use on Facebook users should use the Facebook Privacy Page and take the necessary precautions to reduce or possibly eliminate the possibility of being Facebook stalked. The Facebook privacy page institutes many helpful hints on how to control your page from people viewing your status, to looking at your pictures. The most important bit about this webpage is the tutorial videos that give Facebook users insight on how they can protect their Facebook page. Along with these two helpful hits the simplest way to stop Facebook stalking is just by adding people you know instead of everybody.

References

1. 1. D’Ovidio, Robert, and James Doyle. “A Study on Cyberstalking Understanding Investigative Hurdles.” FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin 72.3 (2003): 10-17. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 10 Nov. 2010.
2. . http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?founderbios#!/press/info.php?factsheet
3. . http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?founderbios#!/press/info.php?factsheet
4. http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/110674/6-thing-you-should-never-reveal-on-facebook
5. http://theminaretonline.com/2010/10/06/article13312
6. http://www.facebook.com/privacy/explanation.php

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