I Catfished a Canadian Celebrity: A Lesson on Ethics in the Early Days of Social Media
Back in the late 2000s, the internet was still a wild frontier. Facebook was new, social media was fun, and we were all figuring out what online identity even meant. In this video, I share a personal story that’s both embarrassing and eye-opening: the time I accidentally catfished a Canadian celebrity, Shawn Desman.
It started innocently enough a Facebook birthday event turned into a prank that quickly spiraled out of control. I created a fake account pretending to be Shawn Desman, just for laughs. But within days, thousands of people started adding Shawn, sending messages, and even tagging him in their personal life moments like weddings. What began as a joke became a social experiment gone wrong.
When a Joke Becomes a Monster
Within days, the fake account had thousands of friend requests. People were messaging, tagging, and posting about me or rather, him. What started as a prank became this runaway train of social validation and online chaos.
People actually began arguing online about whether it was the real Shawn Desman. Some swore they knew him personally. Others defended the account’s authenticity like it was a badge of honor.
And that’s when I realized just how easy it was to manipulate identity online. All it took was a photo, a name, and a bit of charm and suddenly, I was living as someone else in the digital world.
The Line Between Reality and Illusion
Things got even weirder when people began tagging Shawn Desman my fake account in their wedding photos and personal memories.
That’s when it hit me: this wasn’t funny anymore.
People were emotionally investing in an illusion. What I thought was a bit of internet mischief had crossed into real emotional territory. I had unintentionally become part of people’s lives in a fake way.
And that realization stung.
Taking Responsibility
Eventually, I decided to shut down the account. It was the only right thing to do. I had seen the impact, the confusion, the misplaced trust and I knew I had to stop it.
Before I deleted everything, I reached out to the real Shawn Desman to apologize and explain what had happened. I never got a response and honestly, I don’t blame him.
That silence said enough.
What I Learned From Catfishing a Celebrity
Looking back, this entire experience became one of my biggest lessons in ethics, identity, and digital responsibility.
Here’s what I took away from it:
Confession is powerful: Owning up to your mistakes is uncomfortable, but it’s the first step toward growth.
Social media makes deception easy: Platforms often make it too simple to pretend, post, and project without accountability.
Online personas have real influence: Even fake ones can shape people’s beliefs, emotions, and relationships.
The internet blurs reality: People will argue, defend, and emotionally invest in things that aren’t even real.
Taking responsibility matters: Shutting it down was the only ethical thing to do, even if the apology wasn’t acknowledged.
My Public Apology
So, Shawn Desman, if by some miracle you ever read this I’m sorry.
Back then, I didn’t fully understand the implications of what I was doing. It was reckless, thoughtless, and immature. But it also taught me something I’ve carried with me ever since: in a digital world, identity is sacred.
Final Reflection
Today, we live in an age where AI can clone voices, faces, and entire personalities in seconds. My little Facebook prank from the late 2000s almost feels like a primitive version of what’s happening now, a glimpse into how easily truth can be distorted online.
But this experience taught me a deeper truth:
Integrity is everything.
Technology will evolve, but human responsibility has to evolve with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What does catfishing mean on social media?
Catfishing is when someone creates a fake online identity to trick others into believing they’re someone else. It often involves using fake photos or details to gain trust, friendship, or attention.
Q2. Why do people fall for catfishing?
People fall for catfishing because online communication builds emotional trust easily. When someone seems genuine, friendly, or caring, it’s natural to believe them especially when we want to connect.
Q3. How can you spot a fake account?
Check for inconsistent photos, vague bios, few mutual friends, or strange replies. Fake profiles often avoid video calls or in-person meetings. A reverse image search can also reveal if photos are stolen.
Q4. What are the dangers of catfishing?
Catfishing can lead to emotional pain, scams, privacy breaches, or even identity theft. Victims often feel betrayed and lose trust in online relationships. It’s not just a prank it can have real-world harm.
Q5. Is catfishing illegal?
Catfishing itself isn’t always illegal, but it becomes a crime if it involves fraud, extortion, or identity theft. Many countries now have cyber laws protecting victims from online impersonation.
About the Author:
Shawn Kanungo is a globally recognized disruption strategist and keynote speaker who helps organizations adapt to change and leverage disruptive thinking. Named one of the "Best New Speakers" by the National Speakers Bureau, Shawn has spoken at some of the world's most innovative organizations, including IBM, Walmart, and 3M. His expertise in digital disruption strategies helps leaders navigate transformation and build resilience in an increasingly uncertain business environment.