Essay On Catfishing

Although, new doors to communication are being opened through the emergence of various social media sites allowing for a new form of intimacy to grow, however an increase of fake profiling results in a hoax intimacy. Catfishing is becoming a trend we overlook; people are forgetting what it is really is to be labeled: a catfish. The term is being used loosely and frequently as an insult rather than for someone who is sharing false information, communicating with people, and has some psychological problems.
Catfish the tv show has opened the eyes of many to this phenomena of internet personalities. MTV defines the term ‘catfish’ as a verb meaning “to pretend to be someone you’re not online by posting false information, such as someone else’s pictures, on social media sites, usually with the intention of getting

someone to fall in love with you.” Statistics show an increase in the number of fake profiles since the show first aired. In 2012, Facebook reported that 8.7% of its members are ‘bogus’. A year later, Facebook released a statement saying the number increased to 11.2%. Fake profiling does not only occur on Facebook; catfishing occurs on dating websites, Twitter, and Instagram. Not only has the quantity of fake profiles increased, the quality of false information has too.
It is evident in the show that the false information shared has been getting worse, the lies are getting bigger and more irrational. In the first episode, Sunny, a 21-year-old nursing student fell in love with a man named Jamison King, turns out Jamison was a girl named Chelsea who was seeking female companionship. In the season 4 finale, the last aired episode, Brittany, a 24 year old stay at home mom of three, fell in love with Byron, a 27 year old marine who suffers from PTSD. It turns out that Byron is actually a 25 year old law enforcement student, named Heather.
Catfish, a word generally used to describe someone who lures another person into a relationship by using an online persona, has now turned into a slang term used when someone looks different in person than on their social media accounts. If a girl post pictures on social media of her all dressed up and wearing makeup but likes to look natural and comfy in person, she is identified as a catfish. Those are not characteristics of a catfish. A catfish is someone who creates a fake profile, uses that account to talk to other people, and has psychological problems.
A catfisher uses fake information and/or fake pictures. People often use false birthdays or false locations on their profile, this is not considered catfishing. Although they are giving out false information, they are not deliberately trying to lie to someone, they are just ensuring their safety by keeping personal things private. Although some people might be trying to seem like someone who they are not with the stuff they post online, they are not considered a catfish. For example, someone who only posts nature pictures but does not go outdoors much is trying to seem like they are “one with nature”. Even though that is on the verge of false information, the person is still using his/her personal account and not hiding their identity. One’s media persona is not considered a catfish, it turns into catfishing when they start communicating with others using the account.
A catfisher uses their account to talk to people. Many people may have just created a fake profile because they were bored and wanted to see how people they knew are doing without following them from their personal accounts but when that person makes multiple accounts or starts using it to contact people, it becomes catfishing. There are many reasons as to why someone contacts another person with a fake profile. Some people create accounts with malicious intent. They do it out of their own enjoyment and do not care how the other person will feel. Many times, catfishing can turn into a form of cyberbullying. A person may also just make a fake profile in order to hide their identity while trying to communicate the truth or facts to someone else. For example, someone may just create a fake account to tell a friend that their significant other is cheating on them or someone may create a fake profile in order to view another person’s profile because they assume that person is lying. Although that may be the case in some situations, catfishing is still having a negative effect on society because it is resulting in people not confronting issues face to face. It is resulting in people being more passive. This may also result in people having trust issues. The false information given may make someone wonder how much of everything is the truth.
Studies show someone who constantly catfishes has psychological problems; people who usually catfish often have identity issues, are seeking attention, addicted to stalking, or have low self esteem.

Many people feel more comfortable talking through a computer rather than in person. Some experts believe that catfishing is related to pathological lying. Pathological lying is usually motivated by need to regulate self-esteem, denial of reality, or desire for power. How far can catfishing go? Catfishing can results in psychological problems in the victim as well. They may become depressed or have trust issues after being betrayed. Although studies on the topic have been conducted, very little is known about the psychology of catfishing. There is not enough information to make the connection between catfishing and psychological problems. Maybe it is just a coincidence that people who have some type of psychological disorder tend to create fake accounts, rather than creating fake accounts causes people to have disorders but at one point or another every catfisher can agree that the account has caused them some stress (even if that means after they were

caught).
With all the new ways of interacting online, catfishing is becoming a new trend. Although there may be some perks to creating a fake profile such as: concealing your identity and creating an alter ego (media character for gaming which can be essential to growing), it is still having a negative effect on society. Catfishing can be considered a form of identity theft and stalking, so if we do not start to reduce the amount of fake profiles, we are basically encouraging illegal acts. Moreover, catfishing results in the loss of many friendships and people’s emotions getting played with. Although there are various reasons as to why someone creates a fake profile, and not all of them are deliberately trying to hurt someone, people are tending to lose their grip on reality. They are being entrapped in the cyber world, thus alienating themselves. They are exchanging online friends and technological communications for physical human interactions.