What is stalking?

“Stalking is a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or any other course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear,” according to the Department of Justice. Similar to crimes of sexual violence, stalking is about power and control.

Stalking laws and definitions differ from state to state. You can read more about your state’s laws by visiting the Stalking Resource Center. Stalking behavior can take many forms including:

• Making threats against someone, or that person’s family or friends
• Non-consensual communication, such as repeated phone calls, emails, text messages, and unwanted gifts
• Repeated physical or visual closeness, like waiting for an someone to arrive at certain locations, following someone, or watching someone from a distance
• Any other behavior used to contact, harass, track, or threaten someone

What is “the use of technology to stalk”?

One of the ways perpetrators stalk victims is through the use of technology. You may have heard the term cyberstalking to refer to these types of interactions. “Use of technology to stalk” is a broad term that is used to cover all forms stalking that rely on technology.

Some uses of technology to stalk include:

• Persistently sending unwanted communication through the internet, such as spamming someone’s email inbox or social media platform
• Posting threatening or personal information about someone on public internet forums
• Video-voyeurism, or installing video cameras that give the stalker access to someone’s personal life
• Using GPS or other software tracking systems to monitor someone without their knowledge or consent
• Using someone’s computer and/or spyware to track their computer activity

​As technology and digital platforms continue to grow, so do the chances that someone could interact with you in an unwanted, sexual manner. Not all of these behaviors are considered stalking, but they can be violating and make you feel uncomfortable. Learn more about the different ways people can use technology to hurt others.

What are some common reactions to being stalked?

The DOJ uses “fear” to define the experience of being stalked, but there are other reactions that are just as important to consider. You might feel anxious, nervous, isolated, become stressed, or develop signs of depression.

What should I do if I’m being stalked?

If you think you are being stalked, please know you are right to be concerned. Stalking may escalate in behavior. Consider the following tips to increase your safety and effectively report the crime.

• Try to avoid the person stalking you. This can be difficult at times, especially if the person stalking you is close to you or your family.
• If you are being stalked through communication technology, like email or text messaging, make it clear that you wish to stop contact. Once you’ve made it clear, do not respond to further communication.
• Keep any evidence received from the stalker such as text messages, voicemails, letters, packages, emails, etc., but do not respond. You can do this by taking screenshots of conversations or even printing out email exchanges.
• Inform family, friends, supervisors, and co-workers of the situation.
• If you have children, create a code word that lets them know they need to leave the house or call the police.
• Consider reporting the stalking to local law enforcement.
• Keeping an accurate journal or log of all incidents connected to the stalking.
• Become familiar with computer safety and ways to stay safe online.

To learn more about stalking and safety planning visit the Stalking Resource Center.

To speak with someone who is trained to help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or chat online at online.rainn.org.