A new report from VPNRanks warns that around 23% of internet users are at risk of being cyberstalked by 2025.
Three in ten Americans are expected to be affected by this type of crime, with a total estimated to reach nine million victims by 2025.
As the internet spreads around the world, the number of perpetrators of these digital crimes is naturally increasing. Cyberstalking is defined as the use of text messages, email, or social media to harass, threaten, or monitor someone.
While some may think that cyberstalking is uncommon, it has been around for years. In 2021, studies showed that the percentage of victims ranged from 7% to 40% of the population.
Alarmingly, someone who is being stalked in real life may also be being stalked online. VPNRanks reports that 70% of cyberstalking victims know who is stalking them and fear physical harm.
In 2019, there were approximately 1.5 million victims of cyberstalking, most of whom were over the age of 16. There are many reasons why cyberstalking is common and easy to carry out, including the widespread availability of the Internet and the fact that some people use it illegally. There are also hacking tools that stalkers use to threaten their victims.
Another reason for the spread of this phenomenon is the lack of awareness among people about what cyberstalking is and the laws that criminalize it.
