B.Ed@MTTC

CONSCIENTIZATION

Conducted Conscientization about CATFISHING for students of GMGHSS Pattom.

CONSCIENTIZATION REPORT

Topic: CATFISHING Class – 9th D

School – Government Model Girls Higher Secondary School, Pattom, Trivandrum.

Name of the Teacher – Pillai Surya Balakrishna

INTRODUCTION

Catfishing is a deceptive activity where a person creates a sock puppet presence or fake identity on a social networking service, usually targeting a specific victim for abuse or fraud. The practice may be used for financial gain, to compromise a victim in some way, or simply as forms of trolling or wish fulfilment.

History

The modern term originated from the 2010 American documentary Catfish. The documentary follows Nev Schulman, the executive producer, as a victim of catfishing. He had cultivated a relationship with what he thought was a 19-year-old woman from the Midwestern United States. The woman with whom he had been communicating was actually a 40-year-old housewife. In the documentary, it is mentioned that the woman's husband came up with the term as he found the comparison to a myth of how cod and catfish act when shipped in different tanks. The myth describes how live codfish were shipped with catfish in the same tanks to keep the cod active, ensuring the quality of the cod whereas being shipped alone the cod would become pale and lethargic. In simple words, a person impersonating someone or pretending to be someone else online to lure/trick people.

How do Catfishers Bait

Catfishing is done using false photographs, anecdotes, and friends and families. Catfishing is done with the intent to deceive another person for some type of personal gains like money, a romantic relationship, and sexual compromises/extortion.

An internet user uses a fake identity to persuade another to believe they are the person they portray. This often is used for relationships. The person catfishing uses another real person's photos and life facts to make them appear as a real person. Often, the real person who is being used for the fake identity does not know that they are having their pictures and name used. They are not aware that their identity was used to create these fake relationships online. The person uses catfishing in order to appear as a better version of themselves by using a fake identity. Their primary reason to appear as a fake person is to befriend the other person for a relationship or other sexual reasons.

Catfishing can also be used as a tactic to cyberbully someone online by attacking other individuals online working under a fake or anonymous identity. Since they are using another person's identity or a made-up identity, the person will not get in trouble and will not have any consequences as the cyberbullying cannot be traced back to them.

Some people use catfishing as a tool of seeking revenge on previous partners or people they consider ‘deserving’. Those seeking revenge often create social media accounts, which use the victim’s images and information in order to humiliate them or damage their reputation. They can also use fabricated identities to lure the person into a fake relationship to hurt them emotionally.

Some people set up multiple catfishing accounts to maximize the emotional impact when harassing someone online. They might set up several social media accounts because the recipient of the harassment has blocked their initial catfishing account or they might do it to create the impression that there are growing numbers of people participating in the abuse, in an attempt to overwhelm the victim.

NEED AND SIGNIFICANCE

All around the world continuously so many teenagers go missing or get kidnapped, abducted, trafficked, sexually exploited, emotionally abused, depressed and killed due to catfishing. We need to make our younger generations about being safe online.

PRESENTATION

Students had not heard the term Catfishing but I was sure they must have some idea about it through news and peers. A video about teenagers being catfished was presented to the students and they immediately identified the issue.

A short PowerPoint presentation for awareness regarding catfishing was presented to the students. After being given an idea about catfishing, how people are catfished and the motives behind it, the reasons for teenagers being more prone to it were specified.

Catfishers fish for…

-Revenge / Bullying

- Harassment

- Boredom

- Loneliness

- Insecurity

- Money

Catfishing and Teenagers

1. When it comes to Catfishing teenagers are more vulnerable. Teenagers go through that phase in life when they crave attention and socialising. This makes them more attackable to catfishers.

2. Today’s teenagers have grown up with social media as a common method of communication among friends. So they cannot be kept away from these platforms, where catfishers prey.

3. Teenagers are not as cautious as adults and are less inclined to be suspicious of the motives of a person that they only know online.

Students were indicated of the signs and possible situations of being catfished. Possible signs of being Catfished

1. No proper profile picture or DP – Catfishers mostly post pictures of anything other than their own picture showing their face and identity.

2. Fake photos or other people’s or models’ photos used as DP – Catfishers also use photos of other people they find on the internet. Models’ photos are easily available online, which can be used without them knowing about it.

3. Behaviour too good to be true – Genuine people always behave normally and naturally. People who have other or evil intentions always go out of their way to be extra nice in their behaviour and disposition to hide their intentions and lure people.

4. Keep Pursuing you in spite of saying NO – When it comes to pursuing their prey, catfishers have the same patience and persistence of fishing. They keep waiting, hitting and poking for attention and reel in their targets once they are trapped.

5. Never switch on Video – Someone who is catfishing, will not want to video call if they are using another person’s identity. In order to avoid video chatting, catfishers make up excuses. They might say their webcam is broken or they’re always too busy.

6. Messages from Unknown person – An unknown person starts following or messaging you without revealing their identity or giving fake details.

Students were cautioned regarding the potential dangers of being catfished.

Dangers of Catfishing on Teenagers

1. Extortion of Money

2. Emotional Devastation

3. Abduction / Trafficking

4. Physical Harm

5. Organ smuggling

6. Blackmailing

7. Drives to Suicide

8. Killing

Students were then conscientized about the protective steps to prevent them from being catfished and trapped online.

- Limited and Cautious Use of Social Media.

- Never share personal information with unknown people on social media.

- Adjusting your privacy settings to avoid messages from unknown people.

- Don’t entertain calls from or messages from unknown persons.

- Talk to Parents, Teachers or other Grown-ups in house, if you are being stalked, harassed or bullied online.

- Find proper channels for self-expression like painting, writing, journal or diary writing rather than sharing it with strangers, who can use it to manipulate and abuse you.

- Always remember your safety is above your social media reputation and acceptance.

REFLECTION

Students acknowledged the issue of Catfishing is a serious one that could affect them, their peers, their family, and their future. They participated in the session attentively and listened carefully to all the protective steps. They also resolved to talk about it with their other peers and make them also aware of the signs and dangerous consequences of being catfished.

The teacher in charge Mrs Shijamol also commented that Catfishing was rampant and the Conscientization session was apposite and relevant.