Catfishing

What catfishing is, who it affects, and what a child should learn — a free entry from the Digital Guardians Threat Dictionary.

Target age range: Tweens and Teens (approximately 11–18 years old). This topic is most relevant for middle school and high school youth who are forming online friendships or romances. Younger children may also benefit from basic awareness with parental guidance.

Learning objective: Understand what catfishing is and how to recognize the warning signs of a fake online identity. Empower children to navigate online relationships safely, and equip parents with strategies to prevent catfishing and intervene effectively. Both parent and child will learn to communicate openly about online contacts and practice safe, critical thinking in digital interactions.

Threat definition

Catfishing is when someone creates a fake online identity to deceive others, often to gain trust for exploitative purposes. The catfisher might pretend to be a peer, using stolen photos and fabricated personal details, to trick a child or teen into an online friendship or romance. Their motives can range from emotional manipulation to financial scams or even sexual exploitation. In short, catfishing is a form of online identity deception used to trick, control, or harm victims – for example, by scamming them for money, embarrassing them, or pressuring them into sharing private information or images.

How Common It Is

It’s distressingly common: one survey found over half of Gen Z teens and young adults know someone who has been targeted by catfishing, underscoring the need for vigilance.

The full chapter is in Pillar 2: Social Pressure, Lures & Exploitation Prevention and the Complete Edition.