HONOLULU -- Gov. Linda Lingle signed a new law on Tuesday that makes it illegal to electronically harass or stalk someone using text messages or social networking Web sites.

Chelsea Clement and Keona Cross, both 16, told KITV their stories about being cyber bullied by other girls via cell phone and online.

"And they'll just call and harass you and say that 'We want to beat you up' and stuff," Clement said.

"It's just catfights and 'I saw you with him' or something like that. It's just really pathetic things that I can't even believe people take the time to send," Cross said.

The teens said their friends have been the targets of cyber-stalking by teenage boys.

"You break up with a guy, so it's your ex and he'll always constantly call you, or you're going out with someone and they're overprotective and they'll do bad things through text and MySpace," Clement said.

The new law means people who send harassing messages via social networking sites like Facebook, or by text messaging can be sentenced to as much as one year in prison and face a $2,000 fine.

"I think it will make teenagers especially feel a lot more safe," Cross said.

Previously, Hawaii's harassment and anti-stalker laws applied to the telephone, fax machines or to e-mails. The new law takes into account new technology.

Domestic violence activists hailed the passage of the new law.

"If a victim is being harassed or stalked by her abuser in this way, she now get the court's protection and the court can give the abuser instructions about what he can no longer do," Domestic Violence Clearinghouse Executive Director Nanci Kreidman said.

Law enforcement officials estimate electronic communications are involved in anywhere from 20 percent to 40 percent of stalking cases.

Hawaii now joins 45 other states that have similar anti-electronic harassment and stalking laws on the books.