Catfishing: What It Is and How It Impacts Our Teens

When my daughter worked at a local pharmacy, older ladies often came in to purchase gift cards for their online friends. Management taught her to ask questions and try to convince customers not to buy the gift cards if their stories were suspicious. Inevitably, though, buyers defended their purchases. They insisted they knew their “friend” well and there was a definite need. My daughter recognized that most of these ladies were being swindled, but she rarely talked them out of spending money on someone they’d never met in person.

These precious ladies were catfished.

What is Catfishing?

A catfisher is someone who pretends to be someone they are not. They typically create a fake online profile specifically to deceive others. Their goal is to manipulate or blackmail a victim for a particular purpose.

When we hear the term catfishing, we may think of a lonely woman targeted by someone for her money. Several of my friends’ grandmothers were scammed out of their life savings by this type of con artist.

Catfishing Teens

Unfortunately, preteens and teens are catfished, too. A Verizon article explains, “Being tech-savvy digital natives doesn’t make Gen Z teens and tweens any less susceptible to being catfished. For kids growing up in the digital age, the online world can feel like a safer and more nurturing space to make friends.”[i] This may seem like a contradiction, but I’ve witnessed this truth.

I often ask students if they’ve catfished someone. In a classroom of fifteen to twenty, usually one or two raise their hands. With mischievous smiles, students say they’ve catfished friends as a joke. I ask, “Did your target figure it out on their own or did you come clean?” I’m surprised how many eventually disclosed their secret because their friends didn’t catch on.

Which proves this point: It’s not easy to spot a catfisher.

Catfishing can start with a simple DM—and end in exploitation. Awareness is our best defense. Catfishing: What It Is and How It Impacts Our Teens #catfishing #healthyrelationships Share on X

Catfishing Tactics

While some perpetrators manipulate others into sending money, many persuade preteens and teens to send nudes. They prey on vulnerabilities (i.e. desire to fit in, be accepted, etc.) and use emotions to draw a victim into their snare by pretending to be a friend or a love interest. Then, after establishing a relationship, they sweet talk their target into what they want.

Fight the New Drug says a new trend is “targeting and recruiting so-called ‘vulnerable girls’ to work for popular webcamming sites. . . .” Offenders use fake Instagram accounts to contact young girls. “These accounts can be real life-hacked model’s accounts that have a huge following or it can be fake copies that try to manipulate and offer job opportunities.”

The Fight the New Drug article goes on to tell us that perpetrators assess emotional status through Instagram posts. They use flattery and intrigue to convince victims to accept a vague but appealing job. Young girls are attracted to these “opportunities” because they can work from home using a webcam, and the jobs are lucrative.[ii]

Verizon’s article lists these other examples of catfishing tactics:

• “It can start with a simple friend request in social media, or a private message in a group chat or multiplayer video game.
• “In many cases, the catfisher may gush over your child’s profile, gaming tactics or photos posted on social media.
• “They may share personal information about themselves first to create a false sense of safety.
• “Catfishers may push the conversation to text or more direct, one-to-one messaging platforms.
• “They may pretend to buy lavish gifts and ask for a home address or other personal information to send money or presents.
• “Sometimes, there could be an exchange of inappropriate or personal information between your child and the catfisher that could make it embarrassing for your child to ask for help if the exchange goes too far.”[iii]

Catfishing can lead to exploitation, sextortion, and human trafficking.

Prevention

Combat this prevalent scheme by talking with your teens. Ask them questions. They probably know more about this trend than you think.

Remind your children to look for signals that someone may be catfishing them. Here are some examples to help spot catfishers:

• Their profile has few friends, few photos, or other suspicious information.
• They ask to move the conversation to a different platform.
• They ask for personal information.
• They seem too good to be true.
• They say things like, “I care about you,” or “I know what you need.”
• They request a compromising photo.

Additionally, practice safe screen time. Use parental controls and screen time apps. Keep accounts on private settings. Add filters to all devices and your Wi-Fi router. Monitor your child’s activity and their social media platforms. This is not an invasion of privacy. It’s a way to care, protect, and help our children practice safety and boundaries. It’s also an accountability measure.

Above all, keep talking. Tell your children to trust their gut if something seems off, report fake profiles and suspicious activity, and block accounts they don’t trust.  Remind them they can come to you if they make a mistake or feel threatened online. If they fall into a catfishing trap, you will be there to help them. And if they are lured into a catfishing scheme, respond with love.

If you suspect a catfishing situation, get help at socialcatfish.com.

Subscribe below for two FREE PDF downloads. For more information on helping preteens and teens understand online dangers and what makes a relationship healthy, see Sexpectations: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Healthy Relationships.

---

[i] https://www.verizon.com/about/parenting/what-is-catfishing

[ii] https://fightthenewdrug.org/teens-tricked-into-webcam-exploitation/

[iii] https://www.verizon.com/about/parenting/what-is-catfishing