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Facebook as a Tool of Catfishing: An Analytical Study of University Students

Sidra Maheen ; Abdul Ghani ; Anam Syed (2023) — Human Nature Journal of Social Sciences

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DOI: 10.71016/hnjss/j4ve9n46 (opens in a new tab)

Type:   Journal Article
Country:   Pakistan
Tags:   AI-Enabled Fraud, Catfishing, Cybercrime, Digital Vulnerability, Facebook, Fake Profiles, Law Enforcement, Measurement, Online Dating Platforms, Online Impersonation, Pakistan, University Students
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Synopsis

            
This publication examines Facebook as a medium for catfishing among university students, aiming to illuminate how deceptive online personas are used to manipulate and exploit others. The study frames catfishing as a form of online impersonation that can lead to financial and personal harm, and it situates Facebook as a primary vehicle for such deception. The researchers conducted a quantitative survey (N = 387) at two Pakistani universities to assess perceptions of Facebook’s role in catfishing and to gauge digital vulnerability among students. Methodologically, the study employs a survey design and analyzes responses with chi-square statistics to test the association between Facebook usage and catfishing. The results indicate that a substantial portion of respondents perceive Facebook as a major tool for catfishing, with a higher proportion of female participants reporting awareness or concern about catfishing on the platform. The analysis suggests a statistically significant relationship between Facebook use and attitudes toward catfishing, supporting the study’s central claim that Facebook functions as a common channel for deceptive romantic encounters among students. In terms of implications, the authors advocate for protective measures, including stronger password practices and reduced acceptance of unfamiliar friend requests, and they emphasize the role of law enforcement—in this case, Pakistan’s FIA—in addressing online abuse. The discussion notes that many victims do not report incidents and that digital vulnerability contributes to cybercrime risk. The article acknowledges limitations related to its scope and emphasizes awareness and preventive action as practical responses, while remaining grounded in the study’s reported findings.

          

        
                  

            
Identified Gaps

            
The paper identifies a gap in platform-specific research: prior work addressed catfishing impacts, online dating scams, money fraud, psychological issues, and romance scams, while this study examines Facebook as a setting for same- and cross-gender catfishing for personal gain. It also notes that prior research recommended additional work on cybervictimization and social-network misuse.

          

        
                  

            
Methods

            
The study used a quantitative, positivist survey design. A convenience, nonprobability sample of 387 male and female social-science students from the University of Punjab and Minhaj University completed a questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS using cross-tabulations and chi-square tests to examine the association between Facebook use and catfishing.

          

        
                  

            
Limitations

            
The evidence is based on a nonprobability convenience sample drawn from social-science students at two universities, limiting generalizability beyond this student population. The survey measures respondents' perceptions rather than verified victimization or offending. The reported chi-square table also notes that 40% of cells had expected counts below five, which may weaken the reliability of the test inference.

          

        
                  

            
Future Work

            
Evaluate interventions that discourage acceptance of unknown Facebook friend requests and assess whether community education about fake profiles increases reporting to Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency.

          

              

    
    

        
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