A growing epidemic of “sadfishing” among teenagers is causing alarm as they increasingly use social media to exaggerate their distress and seek attention, experts say.
Sadfishing is defined in a 2021 study in the American College of Health Journal as “the tendency for social media users to expose exaggerated aspects of their personality in order to gain sympathy,” according to Fox News.
The study concluded that sadfishing “is not caused by an acute lack of social support, but rather may be strongly associated with the enduring trait of insecure attachment.”
According to Parents magazine, journalist Rebecca Reid came up with the phrase in response to a 2019 post by Kendall Jenner.
The controversial post, which spoke about Jenner’s “debilitating struggle” with acne, garnered a lot of support from fans, but it was later revealed to be part of a marketing strategy in partnership with Proactiv.
While social media can be effective at raising awareness about common issues, problems arise when it shifts the focus from the issue to the individuals seeking attention.
Teens and the dangers of ‘sadfishing’
Teens are especially vulnerable to sadfishing, as they are often seeking approval and attention without dealing with emotional issues.
Dr Liz Nissim-Matseis, owner of Psychological & Educational Consulting, told Parents that teens may turn to social media because they feel uncomfortable sharing their feelings directly.
“This type of behavior indicates that they feel emotionally isolated from their peers and family and have no outlet to express their frustration,” she explained. “It may seem like a search for attention, and sometimes it is, but I don’t think it comes from a place of contentment or happiness.”
According to Parents magazine, a 2023 report from BMC Psychology found that teens who posted sadfishing content showed more signs of anxiety and depression, with lower social support also contributing to the problem.
Rather than fostering authentic connections, sadfishing is manipulative and potentially harmful, and can lead to increased stress and anxiety.
“Sadfishing provokes a reaction or a repercussion,” Leena B. Patel, LEP, BCBA, told Parents magazine. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be a sincere reaction, but any reaction can provide a temporary dopamine rush from the attention a teen receives after an emotional post.”
Dealing with “sad fishing” practices
Experts stress the importance of open communication for children to discuss their problems.
According to Parents, if a child posts particularly hurtful content online, Dr. Nissim Matteis advises parents to join the conversation without directly addressing the post, to avoid causing embarrassment or anger. Instead, parents should foster an environment of trust and openness.
“You could say something like, ‘I understand you’re hurting, and if you want to talk or brainstorm, I’m always available to listen,'” she suggests.
Dr. Don Grant, national counsel for Healthy Living Management at Newport Healthcare, told Fox News that people are better off building real-world social relationships and seeking help from mental health professionals rather than posting about their problems online.
“For me, a real-life connection is a great antidote to any problem,” he said.
