A popular TikToker known as ‘Yasmin’ in Egypt is actually an 18-year-old student, Abdul Rahman, who used to post videos impersonating a young woman. According to a report published on Thursday (August 21), he adopted this tactic to increase followers and views.

Egyptian police said they launched an investigation after receiving complaints of inappropriate videos being uploaded from the account. Abdul Rahman was later arrested. During interrogation, he admitted that he had impersonated a young woman to deceive viewers, increase views, earn money and get advertisements.

As part of the investigation, his phone and all online platform accounts were seized. After four days in custody, he was granted bail of 5,000 Egyptian pounds.

Abdul Rahman’s neighbors said they had never seen him acting suspiciously or unusually. They knew him as an ordinary young man.

The incident has sparked controversy among online netizens and sparked new discussions about the tactics and ethics of other content creators online.