Social Media Safety / Glossary

Catfishing

Catfishing is when someone creates a fake online identity, with a made-up name, photos or age, to trick others into a friendship or relationship.

A catfish may use photos of someone else and pretend to be a kid or teen. The goal can be attention, money, revenge, or to groom or blackmail the person they are talking to.

Warning signs: they never want to video chat, their story keeps changing, they move fast with compliments and secrets, or they ask for photos, codes or money.

Remember that anyone can pretend online. Keep chats with people you only know online in the open, never meet alone, and tell a trusted adult if something feels off.