Entry # 12

How does cyber technology impact interactions between offenders and victims?

The advancements of technology over time has led us into an age on social media. Social media, although it has its age requirements, any age can end up on some type of platform and usually multiple platforms. This had led to cyber harassment and stalking incidents involving all ages. Since it is an experience many people are familiar with, when posting they are sure to block out or blur anything that may reveal their personal location. Some examples include blurring out any house numbers, street signs, license plates, and also block their address and city from being commented on their posts. Even people who are not active on social media or do not have any photos get harassed. The advancement of technology and use of profiles on platforms allow people to create a profile without any name attached, no bio, no profile photo, and even creates a basis for catfishing or falsified identities. This can create anonymity for offenders when harassing people. The victim in some cases has no idea who is harassing them or is under a false impression of who is contacting them. This can be dangerous for numerous reasons that many of us already understand. However, the presence of identity and easily falsified info allows children onto the apps, most of the time without parental supervision, and allows predators to contact children and convince the child to reveal personal information like their address or their name and face. There are also apps that can be downloaded that provide you access to a random and temporary phone number. Offenders also sometimes use that or a burner phone to harass their victims. With this context, technology allows offenders to harass their victims anonymously or even with a fake identity to anyone with a presence on social media, including any and all ages.

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