What Does Catfish Mean?
Modern day relationships and online communication are complicated, and often, we have to deal with unexpected and unusual situations. One such situation is when someone you’ve been chatting to online isn’t who they say they are. You might have heard the term ‘catfish’ being used in this context, but what does it actually mean?
What Is A Catfish?
A catfish is someone who uses fake information – including false pictures and profile information – to create an online identity that isn’t their own. They use this identity to form relationships with people, often of a romantic variety. The term came from the 2010 documentary film ‘Catfish’, which documented a romance between two people who had met online. It was later popularised on the MTV series ‘Catfish: The TV Show’.
What Are The Risks Of Catfishing?
Catfishing can be damaging in many ways. It can cause you to form attachments to someone who isn’t real, leading to a potential feeling of betrayal when you find out the truth. The psychological damage can also be considerable. On a more practical level, catfishing can be dangerous too. People may be meeting up with people who aren’t who they’re pretending to be, putting them in potentially dangerous situations.
How Can You Spot A Catfish?
There are a few signs that you might be being catfished. Generally, catfishers will not want to talk on the phone, as it can blow their cover if they don’t look or sound like their online persona. They also won’t be keen to video chat, and their social media presence might be limited with few references to other people they’re connected to. They may also use stock photos or images that seem to be too good to be true.
Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself from catfishing. The best way is to be careful who you talk to and make sure that you are aware of the risks of your online behaviour. As much as possible, make sure that you verify who you’re talking to before meeting them, and be suspicious of anyone who isn’t upfront with information. If in doubt, use common sense, and most of all, be aware of the risks.