Social media trends are evolving rapidly, and one of the latest things to gain traction among teenagers is “sad fishing.” Dr. Brenda Lloyd Jones of the University of Oklahoma joined Segment 6 therapy news on Thursday to explain what it means and why parents should know it.
Understanding sad fishing
Sad fishing occurs when an individual exaggerates or dramatizes an emotional struggle on social media.
“It really casts a shadow over the emotional struggles on social media,” Lloyd Jones said. “The goal is to get sympathy, attention, and even validation.”
How does it compare to catfishing?
Many are familiar with “cat fishing,” which includes online deceptions through false identity, but sad fishing is different, but there are similar concerns.
“Cat fishing is about deception and identity fraud, while sad fishing is about exaggerated emotional distress that attract attention from others,” Lloyd Jones explained.
She warned that constant exaggeration of emotional issues on social media could lead to people not helping them with a real cry. “It’s like a boy who called a wolf. If you’re going to exaggerate your emotional happiness or struggle, when will we pay attention?” she said.
What parents should do
Lloyd Jones does not look to social media for validation as parents emphasize the importance of their children’s emotional use.
“Parents, your child’s key. Make sure they know that you can use emotionally,” she advised.
For parents suspecting their children are engaged in sad fishing, healthy emotional expressions and open conversations about mental well-being are essential.
