What does Catfishing mean?
Deceiving someone with a fake online identity
Detailed Explanation
'Catfishing' is a deceptive activity where a person creates a fake or fictional persona on a social media service to mislead someone, typically for the purpose of starting a fraudulent romantic relationship. A 'catfish' is a person who does this. They will often use someone else's photos and false biographical information to create their fake identity.
Usage Examples
“She was in an online relationship for a year before she realized she was being catfished.”
“He looked nothing like his profile pictures; I got catfished.”
“Be careful who you talk to online, as catfishing is very common.”
Origin & History
The term was coined and popularized by the 2010 documentary 'Catfish,' in which filmmaker Nev Schulman documents his own experience of being deceived by a woman online. The woman's husband compared the deceptive behavior to the way fishermen used catfish to keep cod active during transport. The film led to the popular MTV series 'Catfish: The TV Show.'
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people catfish?
Motivations vary widely and can include loneliness, insecurity, revenge, curiosity, or financial scams. Some people do it to explore their identity, while others have more malicious intentions.