Catfishing is on the rise, and teens are an increasing target. Nearly two-thirds of young people report being targeted by catfishers. But what is catfishing, and how can you keep your teen safe? In this article, we’ll go over how teens get catfished, prevention tips, and what to do if your teen is a victim.
What is catfishing?
Catfishing is the act of setting up a fake online identity in order to deceive and control others. It typically involves convincing the victim that they are in a genuine romantic relationship or friendship with the perpetrator.
Common catfishing schemes targeting teens
There are a number of reasons a catfisher might target teens, including:
Financial scams
Blackmail
Sextortion
Identity theft
Cyberbullying
How do teens get catfished?
Certain factors make teens particularly susceptible to catfishing, including common adolescent vulnerabilities and the online spaces where they tend to hang out.
Desire for connection. Teens often turn to online spaces to find connection and support. Catfishers are skilled at taking advantage of this desire for connection.
Overconfidence in their ability to safely maneuver online spaces. Teens are still learning how to safely exist online, but their digital native status often gives them an inflated sense of their own ability to recognize scams.
Tendency to “friend” people they don’t know. Teens may be more likely than adults to accept a friend request from a stranger, which opens them to victimization.
Frequent oversharing. Kids today are growing up in a society that rewards oversharing. But sharing personal details online makes teens vulnerable to catfishing because perpetrators use those details to fabricate an identity that’s enticing to their victim.
Their brains are still developing. Teenagers’ prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain responsible for impulse control and making good decisions — is still under construction. This means they don’t have as much capacity to consider the long term consequences of engaging with a stranger online, especially when that stranger is disguised as a good-looking potential romantic partner.
Teens target each other as part of cyberbullying. Teens may use catfishing as a way to seek revenge, humiliate, or spread false information about a peer.
Where teens are most likely to be catfished
Social media. Catfishing is common on Snapchat, Instagram, and other social media platforms.
Online gaming. Many gaming platforms allow for messaging between users. Roblox, with a user base that’s heavily skewed toward kids under 18, has come under particular scrutiny for being a haven for predators.
Online dating. Dating apps, particularly those with weak age verification, are a common place for adult catfishers to target teens.
How can I prevent my teen from being catfished?
Here are steps you can take to prevent your teen from becoming victims of this online scam:
Educate them on the risks
Teach your child about the dangers of oversharing, the importance of not talking to strangers online, and the warning signs that they’re being groomed.
Set clear expectations
Talk to your child about what apps and websites are and aren’t okay for them to use and how you expect them to behave on the internet. Setting limits on when and where they can use their device can help you keep a better eye on their safety.
Monitor their social media and online use
Use spot checks, regular digital check-ins, and parental monitoring tools like BrightCanary to keep an eye on your child online.
What should I do if my teen is catfished?
If you discover your teen is being catfished, here’s how to help them respond:
Have them cut off contact. Catfishers focus their energy on the people who continue to respond to them. It’s important that your teen immediately stop interacting with potential scammers.
Help them secure their accounts. Have your teen change their passwords to all of their apps, not just the one where they were targeted. Passwords should be strong and unique for each app. (Using a password manager can help.) They should also set up two-factor authentication where available.
Support them emotionally. Being catfished can lead to emotional fallout for your teen. They could feel embarrassed at falling for the scam, fearful about further exploitation, or even sad at the ending of what they thought was a genuine relationship. Listen without judgement, and be clear it’s not their fault.
Final word
Teens are uniquely vulnerable to catfishing, and their victimization is on the rise. It’s important to educate your child on how to spot catfishing and steps they can take to prevent being targeted. It’s also important to monitor your child online so you can spot warning signs.
BrightCanary can help you keep tabs on your child’s online activity, including messages to suspicious numbers or potentially concerning interactions with people in their DMs. Download the app today and get started for free.
