What do we do when a fake account pretends to be my child? 

Parenting Perspective 

Discovering a fake social media account using your child’s name and photo can feel deeply invasive, as if someone has entered your home without permission. Whether the impersonation is intended for mockery, manipulation, or simple mischief, the emotional effect is the same: fear, a sense of violation, and anger. Beneath this alarm, however, lies an opportunity to teach your child digital self-protection, calm accountability, and a faith-rooted composure that will serve them for life. 

Begin with Steady Reassurance 

Your child is likely to feel anxious or embarrassed, thinking, ‘People will believe it is me!’ Your first response must be to restore a sense of calm. 

Sit with them and say, ‘This is not your fault. We will handle it step by step.’ Reassure them that the person who created the account is the one at fault, not them. A composed tone models emotional control in a crisis. 

Confirm and Document What Happened 

Before reacting, help your child to gather evidence. Take screenshots of the fake profile, including the name, bio, followers, and any posts, but do not share or comment on them publicly. If any messages have been sent from the account, save them as proof. It is also a good idea to set your child’s real account to private while you take action. 

Report and Request Removal 

All major social media platforms have procedures for reporting impersonation. Use the ‘Report Account’ option and select ‘Pretending to be someone else.’ Provide proof if requested. If the impersonation involves classmates, you should notify the school discreetly, as many now have protocols for handling the misuse of a student’s digital identity. 

It is best to avoid public confrontation, as responding publicly often amplifies the issue and draws unwanted attention. Quiet, firm action is usually more effective and preserves dignity. 

Protect and Educate for the Future 

Once the account has been dealt with, you can discuss proactive digital safety: 

• Avoid sharing personal details or selfies publicly. 

• Use strong passwords and private settings. 

• Limit who can tag or mention their account. 

Explain that the internet is not inherently dangerous, but it does require awareness, much like locking one’s front door. Teach your child that prevention is a form of wisdom, not a sign of fear. 

Rebuild Their Sense of Safety 

Even after a fake account is removed, the experience can leave a lingering sense of vulnerability. Restore your child’s emotional stability by reassuring them: 

• ‘One person’s deceit cannot define who you are.’ 

• ‘Your real character is what people know in real life, not what appears online.’ 

Encourage them to ground themselves in real-life connections, such as with family and through prayer or hobbies. The goal is to re-root their identity in truth, not in a digital image. 

Your own demeanour will become your child’s anchor. Avoid venting your anger online or confronting others. Instead, show a calm confidence in your private actions. This composure communicates a profound truth: no one can take away a dignity that is anchored in self-respect and faith. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam honours truth and integrity while condemning deception and false representation. To pretend to be someone else, especially in order to cause harm or ridicule, is a violation of both honesty and honour, two sacred trusts in Islam. Helping your child to respond calmly and truthfully can transform this experience from one of fear into one of faith and clarity. 

Truth and Falsehood in the Noble Quran 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hajj (22), Verse 30: 

‘…And abstain from making false statements.’ 

This verse condemns deception in all its forms, whether spoken or digital. It reminds us that truthfulness is a sign of closeness to Allah Almighty, while falsehood corrupts both the heart and the community. Teaching this to your child helps them to see that impersonation is not a harmless prank; it is a moral wrong against a divine command. 

The Prophet’s ﷺ Warning Against Lying and Deceit 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 6094, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to Al-Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evil-doing), and Al-Fajur (wickedness) leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar¹.’ 

This hadith teaches us that honesty is not just a virtue; it is a path to Paradise. By responding to impersonation with truth, calmness, and integrity, your child is mirroring a prophetic strength. The one who lies will eventually be exposed, but the one who holds to the truth is honoured by Allah Almighty Himself. 

When someone pretends to be your child online, it can shake their sense of security. However, your calm guidance, grounded in faith and principle, can restore what deception has tried to take: their dignity. 

Through your steady presence, your child will learn that an identity built on truth can never be stolen, that Allah knows the reality of every heart, and that patience and righteousness are far stronger shields than panic or revenge. 

In that faith-driven calm, they will discover what it truly means to be safe: not in screens or privacy settings, but in the unshakeable truth of who they are before Allah, seen, known, and protected.