What is an essential element of Cyberstalking?

An essential element of cyberstalking is the use of electronic communication to threaten harm or extort money. This definition encapsulates the core behaviors involved in cyberstalking, which is characterized by the repeated and malicious use of electronic means to harass or intimidate an individual.

The focus on electronic communication highlights the nature of cyberstalking, as it specifically involves the use of digital platforms, such as social media, email, or messaging applications, to convey threats or engage in extortion. This aspect sets it apart from other forms of stalking, which may not necessarily involve technological means.

While revealing personal information may contribute to harassment, it does not capture the direct intent to threaten or extort, which are integral to defining cyberstalking. Similarly, physically following someone is more aligned with traditional stalking behaviors rather than the digital context of cyberstalking. Making anonymous phone calls can be a form of harassment, but it lacks the defining characteristics of the continuous and malicious intentions present in cyberstalking cases that involve electronic threats or extortion.