Cyber technology has a major impact on interactions between offenders and victims. It creates new avenues for criminal activity known as cybercrime. Crimes committed online allow for anonymity. The offender can hide their identity and engage in criminal activities. This can be a challenge for law enforcement to find the criminal and apprehend them.
Cyber technology opens the doors for new forms of harassment such as cyberbullying and cyber stalking. Technology offers various social media platforms to take bullying online. Many individuals are online in some social capacity, whether it is through a social networking platform (facebook, instagram), messaging app (whatsapp, snapchat), or even forums (reddit). It is estimated that one in four youth experience cyberbullying. Stalking is defined as “a crime that creates a sense of fear, terror, intimidation, stress or anxiety in the victim” (D. Hazelwood & Koon-Magnin, n.d.). Take traditional stalking, add cyber technology, and you get cyber stalking. The main difference between traditional stalking and cyber stalking is that the stalker can access the victim at any time from any distance. Offenders can use technology to stalk victims online by tracking their digital footprint and social media activities.
Offenders can use various online schemes to commit fraud and scams resulting in financial losses for the victims. It can be as simple as an email scam or fake website. Surprisingly, a study done by the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) showed that Gen Z and Millenials are more likely to fall for online scams (National Cybersecurity Alliance, 2023).
It is important for individuals, authorities, and law enforcement to understand the impact of cyber technology on interactions between offenders and victims in hopes to minimize risks associated with technology use. Proper education and awareness should be promoted to ensure responsible online behavior.
D. Hazelwood, S., & Koon-Magnin, S. (n.d.). Cyber Stalking and Cyber Harassment Legislation in the United States: A Qualitative Analysis. International Journal of Cyber Criminology, 7(2).
National Cybersecurity Alliance. (2023, June 2). STUDY: Millennials and Gen Z Say They are Bigger Victims of Cybercrime. https://staysafeonline.org/news-press/study-millennials-and-gen-z-say-they-are-bigger-victims-of-cybercrime/