Fear of Crime Online? Examining the Effect of Risk, Previous Victimization, and Exposure on Fear of Online Interpersonal Victimization

While decades of research have explored the fear of traditional, physical crime, the fear of online crime remains largely understudied. This paper addresses this gap by examining the fear of online interpersonal victimization (OIPV)—which includes harassment, cyberstalking, and threats of violence—among a random sample of 838 undergraduate students. The researchers investigated how perceived risk, prior victimization, and online exposure influence fear levels, specifically accounting for the relationship between the victim and the offender (intimate partners, friends/acquaintances, and strangers).

The study reveals that students generally report very low levels of fear regarding online interpersonal victimization. Despite these low overall levels, the victim-offender relationship significantly shapes the intensity of fear: students are significantly more afraid of OIPV when the perpetrator is a stranger compared to when the perpetrator is an intimate partner or friend.

Consistent with traditional criminology, perceived risk serves as a robust predictor of fear across all offender categories. However, the role of previous victimization is nuanced; while direct online victimization increases fear of intimate partners and acquaintances, it does not significantly impact fear of strangers. Notably, the study found no evidence that the amount of time spent online or the specific types of online activities engaged in (e.g., social networking, instant messaging) influence an individual's level of fear, suggesting that online exposure does not function as a driver of fear in the same way it does in physical environments.

This research provides a foundational step in understanding how digital environments alter the traditional "fear of crime" paradigm. The findings suggest that because students perceive OIPV as a low-level threat, they may be less likely to adopt protective behaviors. This highlights a critical need for university-level educational programs to raise awareness about the serious emotional and financial consequences of online interpersonal victimization, as current student perceptions may not align with the actual risks they face.