Perhaps one of the most striking similarities between the shows is the use of social media and the invasion of privacy. In Gossip Girl, the characters' every movement is followed and documented for everyone to see by means of an app tracking the GPS on their phones to text blasts that reveal their biggest secrets to the world. While it's certainly creepy when you think about it, it's also easier to dismiss since the show takes place in a heightened reality.
On the flip side, the way Joe stalks Beck is much scarier because it's far more realistic. After meeting Beck, Joe goes straight to Google to find her social media profiles, which are conveniently set to public. In a matter of minutes, he is able to discover where she went to school, who her siblings are, and her home address, where he eventually stalks her in real life.
