Twitter: Stalking Device

Israel Hyman and his wife went on vacation not too long ago. Upon returning, they found that someone had broken into their house and absconded with his MacBook Pro and other audio/visual equipment. Not only did Mr. Hyman suffer the mental anguish of having his privacy violated, but as the operator of a video business, this loss impacted his livelihood as well. So what does this have to do with Twitter? Mr. Hyman claims that Twitter could be to blame for the theft.

On his own blog, Mr. Hyman wrote: "Anyway, the story is getting some attention on the local news because there's a chance the criminals knew we were gone because I twittered about my family's trip."

In an interview with Fox News, Mr. Hyman added: "It might not have anything to do with [Twitter]. I have suspicions that it might, because we tried to keep it quiet in the neighborhood that we were going to be leaving. We told one neighbor, who locally kind of watches the neighborhood real well for us. But then we've got a lot of people following us on Twitter, relatively a lot of people, so we announced we were going out of town and a couple of days later somebody took [our Mac Pro]."

A defining characteristics of Twitter is how it feeds the narcissistic tendencies within all of us. Its built-in conceit is the belief that others are interested in the everyday minutia of our lives. Judging by Twitter's initial success and unparalleled growth, it appears to have fulfilled a need for self-expression far beyond what other technologies allow. This incessant broadcasting of our lives, however, comes with its own set of dangers beyond its pernicious effect of inflating our egos.

One of these dangers is the lack of privacy. When users of Twitter expound on so much of what comprises their daily routines, the expectation that they can be selective as to what can be kept private is diminished. Despite the best of efforts, a careful perusal of many Twitter accounts can provide insight into how a person's life is led. The basics, at the very least, are easily gleaned: Where do they work? What are their favorite foods? When are they home? Do they go to a gym?

In Mr. Hyman's case, he feels that the burglar may have stalked him on Twitter and concluded that his house was vacant, ready to be plundered. Technology has made this kind of stalking simple and untraceable in virtual reality. Before the interconnectedness of the Internet age, stalking was decidedly low-tech. In determining whether a house was left unoccupied, a potential burglar may review a checklist of tell-tale signs: Have newspapers gathered on the front porch? Are the living room lights on in the evening? Has the car remained unmoved? This came with the physical risk that the person doing the surveillance would be spotted by vigilant neighbors.

Now, with Twitter, stalking can be accomplished with the comfort and safety that online detachment provides. Commentators to Mr. Hyman's situation have made it clear that it should have been obvious not to use Twitter to announce vacation plans. But the absence of information is also telling. If the person in question, nominally a dedicated Twitter user, is suddenly negligent in issuing tweets, that can be an indicator of travel plans as well. A break in any Twittering pattern becomes a red flag to those paying close enough attention.

There is also stalking once removed. An example: A dedicated employee can note with feelings of relief that his or her boss is on vacation. While this may provide fodder for subsequent comments of not having to work so diligently, it also tells a hyper-aware follower that the boss's own home could be vacant. No one is safe from the overeager tendency of Twitter users to detail every aspect of their lives.

None of this, per se, is Twitter's fault. It is only a medium -- nothing more and nothing less. It's the unbridled and reckless zeal of some of its users that increases their risk of being stalked. And perhaps it is these users who can learn the most from what happened to Mr. Hyman.

Comments

[Gareth]

So you blame the fact that YOU wrote on Twitter that you were going on holiday for being burgled...

If you didn't want people in your area to know you were leaving, why did you broadcast it on the internet.

The problem isn't with twitter, it's with your own level of stupidity.