Online Stalking of Instagram Influencers

Social media influencers may be a particularly vulnerable population when it comes to online stalking. This study is the first to investigate how prevalent stalking victimization is in this population and what patterns of stalking behavior they may experience. The authors recruited 201 Instagram influencers to complete an online survey of their experiences related to stalking. The social media influencers reported a higher prevalence of stalking than was reported in stalking prevalence surveys of community residents. Reported stalking rates in the social media influencers were similar to those experienced by other public figures, such as media personalities and politicians. The results detail the diversity of stalking behaviors experienced by this population and how these behaviors manifest online and offline. In addition, we investigate associations between participants' demographic factors and their stalking experiences and identify a discrepancy between how commonly participants experience stalking behaviors (95% prevalence) and how infrequently they self-identify as victims of stalking (55% self-identify as stalking victims). We attempt to explain this discrepancy as a product of the diversity of the stalking behaviors participants experienced and whether those behaviors induced fear, with both factors being significantly associated with each other and with self-identified stalking victimization. Public Significance Statement A first look at the stalking of social media influencers showed that influencers may be at higher risk of being stalked and harassed, especially online. This may be the result of gathering a large, anonymous fan base and building a personal connection between the influencer and their fans. Understanding what types of stalking influencers are experiencing and why is the first step to preventing these criminal behaviors.