What Is "Sadfishing" Trend On Social Media

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9 June 2024

Scroll through any social media feed and you're bound to encounter the "sadfishing" phenomenon

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The attention-seeking behavior, where individuals fish for sympathy and reactions online, has been dubbed "sad fishing" by academic researchers

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Coined in 2019, "sadfishing" originated from journalist Rebecca Reid's critique of a seemingly vulnerable post by model Kendall Jenner

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Kendall Jenner's story about her acne struggles, turned out to be part of a marketing campaign. It later sparked the term "sadfishing"

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There's a difference between “sadfishing” and genuinely being vulnerable online

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“Sadfishing” might involve posting a targeted quote about heartbreak clearly aimed at a recent ex

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In contrast, someone sharing a caption about struggling with depression might be making an actual cry for help

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Those accused of “sadfishing” risk experiencing lowered self-esteem, anxiety, and shame

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Sharing personal struggles online to garner sympathy, often referred to as "sadfishing," has become increasingly common

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