e-space
Manchester Metropolitan University's Research Repository

    ‘Catfishes: how do they reel us in?’ Exploring adolescent vulnerabilities to online grooming

    Boland, Laura and Worthington, Rachel ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9869-4511 (2023) ‘Catfishes: how do they reel us in?’ Exploring adolescent vulnerabilities to online grooming. Forensic Update (143). pp. 12-22. ISSN 1356-5028

    [img]
    Preview
    Accepted Version
    Available under License In Copyright.

    Download (284kB) | Preview

    Abstract

    The practice of adopting a fake online persona (‘catfishing’) is commonly adopted by cyber criminals to facilitate contact with -victims, yet there is a dearth of research exploring what makes an individual vulnerable to being catfished. This study explored the risk factors and vulnerability of young people to catfishing. 42 participants aged 13–17 completed an online questionnaire exploring problematic internet use, self-esteem, social isolation, parental involvement and online safety awareness, and The Catfish Test. Participants were asked to identify each profile as real or fake. The results of the study are discussed alongside implications for practice.

    Impact and Reach

    Statistics

    Activity Overview
    6 month trend
    144Downloads
    6 month trend
    72Hits

    Additional statistics for this dataset are available via IRStats2.

    Altmetric

    Repository staff only

    Edit record Edit record