Recently, I posted a story, and an old acquaintance who I’m not very close with started watching and commenting on it constantly. Normally, they wouldn’t write much. I seriously started to feel suspicious, as if they were tracking everything I do. Do you think this is paranoia, or can people really notice when someone is stalking them? How do you set boundaries on social media, or is it even necessary?
6 Answers
6I don’t think it’s paranoia; clearly, they have some interest in you right now or they’re curious about what you’re doing. If the same person is suddenly watching your stories and commenting, they’re probably stalking you. Hide your story from that person for a while; if they stop, you’ll know for sure.
Are we trying to understand paranoia here, but on the other hand, why shouldn’t people comment on their stories? Social media is already for this purpose. If you’ve opened a post, and you don’t want something to be special for someone, I don’t see the point in worrying this much. Just open a private account, you’ll feel more comfortable.
Establishing your boundaries on social media starts with clear communication. You can either restrict someone’s story sharing or talk to them by saying, “I felt uncomfortable.” However, if this behavior isn’t causing material harm or approaching threats, we can’t call it “stalking.” It might just be an attempt to gain attention.
Let me give you one more detail: This person actually seemed like someone who was trying to establish closeness before, but they were always distant. Now that they’re being a bit too active, I’m surprised. I thought about blocking them, but I don’t want to damage my relationships with the friends I’m close to.
Actually, it’s quite common; learning about what someone is doing through stories is a practical way for that person. Maybe they’re trying to add something to their life, or perhaps an old issue popped into their mind. There’s no need to look for bad intentions immediately. But if you’re uncomfortable, make your boundaries clear in a way that can’t be ignored.
Honestly, I’ve experienced something like this a couple of times too. Sometimes people try to reconnect with old friends; maybe they want to stay relevant. If it’s bothering you, try selecting and removing the ones you don’t feel close to before posting a story, after all, not everyone gets unlimited shares.