Have You Been Sadfishing Online?

If there’s anything constant about the internet, it’s change. New trends are being birthed at every turn of the page, giving shape to how we interact with each other and define ourselves. The latest social media trend, however, is one that’s a bit more alarming. The act of sadfishing has swept internet users, leaving them vulnerable to grooming and inadequately able to emotionally regulate . If you or someone you know has been sadfishing, here’s where it may stem from and how to confront it.

What Is Sadfishing?

Sadfishing can be defined as the act of posting sensitive or emotional content on social media in an attempt to gain sympathy and attention. It’s essentially treating the internet as an open and public diary, exaggerating the most intimate parts of your internal world in exchange for a sense of connection and pity. While this has been primarily witnessed in teens, older social media users have certainly fallen victim to the act as well. Many will take to TikTok and Instagram to share storytimes that will elicit a sense of pity, building parasocial relationships with their followers.

While it’s case-dependent and many users opening up online may being doing so just for the sake of sharing, anyone chronically oversharing deeply personal sentiments could be categorized as sadfishers.

What Sadfishing Can Actually Mean

Mental health experts confirm that the act of sadfishing can be indicative of a bigger mental health problem like anxiety or depression, as well as a display of anxious attachment . If people are lacking connection in real life with real friends and family, seeking out a sense of being chosen through the internet is an easy remedy, though in time, it will only exaggerate the problem. The attention won’t be long-lasting, forcing you to constantly feed the machine as you build a dependence on people’s perception of you. While adults online may have their own motives for sadfishing, younger teens may not realize where they’re operating from and can leave themselves vulnerable to groomers who can identify with the teen and offer support, gaining their trust only to exploit it at a later time.

If you find yourself sadfishing, take some time to step away and interrogate where the desire may be coming from. Do you feel neglected by the people in your real life? Are there potential mental health issues you may be evading? And if any loved ones around you seem to be actively sadfishing themselves, take some time to check in and offer support. The mere physical presence of someone caring can be enough to bring them peace.

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