How long does it take for platforms to remove a fake account?

Response times vary by platform. Instagram and Facebook typically review impersonation reports within 24–48 hours. TikTok and Snapchat may take longer. If the account is not removed promptly, submit a follow-up report and consider contacting the platform's support team directly. In urgent cases, involve the police.

What if the impersonator is another child at my child's school?

Report it to the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead. Schools can investigate and address the behaviour through their anti-bullying and online safety policies. Avoid confronting the other child or their parents directly, as the school is better placed to handle the situation appropriately.

Important

Someone Is Impersonating My Child Online

You or your child have discovered that someone has created a fake account using your child's name, photos, or personal information on social media, a gaming platform, or another online service.

Discovering that someone is impersonating your child online is alarming. The fake account may be posting embarrassing or harmful content, contacting your child's friends, or using your child's identity for malicious purposes. Taking swift action to report and remove the account is important, but it is equally important to support your child through what can be a distressing experience.

What to do now

Confirm the Impersonation

Verify that the account is genuinely impersonating your child and is not simply a similar name or a shared joke between friends. Check the profile for your child's photos, personal details, or content that could only have come from someone who knows them.

✗ Do not: Do not engage with the fake account directly — do not message, comment on, or confront the person behind it.

Document Everything

Take screenshots of the fake profile, including the username, profile photo, bio, and any posts or messages. Record the platform and the URL of the account. This evidence may be needed for platform reports, the school, or the police.

Report to the Platform

Every major platform has a process for reporting impersonation accounts. Use the 'Report' or 'Impersonation' option on the platform. On most services, you do not need to be the person being impersonated to file the report — a parent can do so on their child's behalf.

Alert Your Child's Friends and School

Let your child's close friends know about the fake account so they do not interact with it. If the impersonator is believed to be a peer, inform the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead. They can address the situation within the school community.

Support Your Child

Talk to your child about how they are feeling. Impersonation can feel like a violation of identity and can cause anxiety, embarrassment, and anger. Reassure them that it is not their fault and that you are taking steps to resolve it.

What not to do

✗Do not message or confront the person behind the fake account — this can escalate the situation.
✗Do not ask your child to deactivate their own account unless they want to — the fake account should be removed, not the real one.
✗Do not share the fake account widely on social media, as this can draw more attention to it.
✗Do not attempt to hack or access the fake account — this is illegal and counterproductive.

Preserving evidence

Why this matters

If you need to report to authorities or a platform, evidence can help.

•Screenshot the fake account's profile page, including username, bio, profile photo, and follower/following lists.
•Screenshot any posts, stories, or messages sent from the fake account.
•Record the date you first became aware of the account and any interactions your child or their friends have had with it.

How to talk to your child

✓Reassure your child that being impersonated is not their fault and does not mean they did anything wrong.
✓Explain the steps you are taking to get the account removed and keep them updated on progress.
✓Ask if they have any idea who might be behind the account, but do not pressure them if they are unsure or upset.