The Relationship Between Risky Behaviors And Perceived Victimization In Individuals Who Participate In Social Networking Websites

The first California anti-stalking law was developed in 1990 after the murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer. Since then, researchers have looked at offline stalking and the relationship the predator has with the victim. Stalking has evolved and most stalking cases now have a cyber element to them. Additionally, there is an increase in participation in social networks such as Facebook and MySpace among young adults and adolescents. Research has shown that individuals who participated in social networking who had a preconception of risk also had a fear of being victimized online. The current study was designed to determine the relationship between risky behaviors and perceived victimization in individuals who participate in social networking websites. Ninety-eight participants participated in a questionnaire that measured their level of engagement in risky behaviors and their perceived level of victimization. Only 73 participants met criteria for participation and were used to analyze the data. There was no significant difference found in the level of perceived victimization in individuals who participated in social networking websites and those who engaged in risky behaviors. Future research should explore this further in order to understand individuals' perception of victimization.