ARE YOU A FACEBOOK STALKER?

Are You a Facebook Creeper? Take This Quiz!

Stalking: Following or observing a person persistently and surreptitiously, sometimes done out of obsession or derangement. Other definitions of stalking suggest a fear of death or injury by the victim, but the previous definition taken from the Web site of a private investigator describes a common form of recreation on the Muskingum College campus: Facebook stalking. The term "stalking" is used lightly in this situation and is sometimes referred to as "creeping." Facebook stalking is not considered a criminal act and does not involve injury to the stalk-ee, as they are often unaware they are being creeped upon. Facebook stalking has come about as a result of the openness and prevalence of the social networking website Facebook, especially among college students.

Do you think you might be a Facebook stalker? Here's a short quiz.

1. I check Facebook more than seven times per day. a. This is true of me every day. b. Some days. c. I don't count. d. Never. 2. I comment on photos taken by people I've never met in real life. a. Often. b. Occasionally. c. I did it once. d. Never. 3. I "friend" my friends' friends. a. Often. b. Occasionally. c. Just once, really. d. Never. 4. When I meet someone in real life, I find them on Facebook, look at their pictures, but don't "friend" them. a. Often. b. Occasionally. c. I have only done this one time. d. Never. 5. I judge acquaintances by the raunchiness of their Facebook bumper stickers. a. Often. b. Occasionally. c. Most of my friends don't have the bumper sticker application. d. Never. 6. My mini-feed features six or more "friends added" per week. a. Most weeks. b. Occasionally. c. Just the first few weeks of the semester. d. Never. 7. I comment on people's statuses in real life. a. Often. b. Occasionally. c. Only if it's really funny or depressing. d. Never. 8. I know what an acquaintance did last weekend, but we've never spoken. a. Yes, I looked at their pictures or other element on their profile. b. Yes, I checked out the "confirmed guests" on the event list. c. Yes, it showed up in my mini-feed. d. No. 9. Regardless of whether I show up, I invite myself to events that no one has invited me to. a. Often. b. Occasionally. c. Just once. d. Never. 10. I found out through my mini-feed that my close friends broke up. Instead of asking them about it, I called a friend and discussed what all it means. a. Yes. b. The first sentence is true, but then I called the people involved to make sure instead of waiting for them to tell me. c. The first sentence is true. d. No. 11. I use the "phonebook" feature. a. Often. b. Occasionally. c. I did once. d. Never. 12. I message someone I'm not friends with so I can look at their profile. a. Often. b. Occasionally. c. It happened once. d. Never.

For every "a." give yourself four points. Every "b." is worth three. If you answered "c." add two points each. And for "d." answers, chalk up one.

Your score: Verdict: 36-48 You are definitely a creeper. Get help. 24-36 You have some creepy tendencies, but no one is judging you. 12-24 You are probably not a creeper. Way to go.

Sources: Student Perspectives: Josh Doerschuk, Koby Doughty, Emma Neischloss, Jamie Kalklosch, Spenser Miller, Jessica Ballinger Internet Sources: "Cyberstalking" Wikipedia article, Rick Mangrum Investigations Web Site's Glossary of Investigation Terms (A private investigator's Web site)