The audience of MTV’s Catfish discussed whether using bullying as a justification for creating a fake online persona is acceptable.
In 2012, MTV capitalized on the increasing popularity of catfishing by creating a show called Catfish, based on the idea of individuals creating fake online personas to attract romantic interests.
Some online relationships can continue for months or even years before the truth is ultimately uncovered.
Thankfully, Catfish’s hosts, Nev Schulman and Kamie Crawford, make every effort to assist individuals who suspect they may be communicating with a fraudulent individual on the internet.
Despite their camera not functioning or not being able to afford a visit, catfishers exhibit noticeable warning signs that their online partner may ignore. However, what motivates individuals to engage in catfishing behavior?
Despite individuals on Catfish having the chance to explain their reasons for using a fake identity, fans of the show have developed their own theories and engaged in discussions about why they believe people fall victim to catfishing.
According to numerous individuals on a Reddit thread, the reason behind catfishing is often due to past experiences with bullying. One person passionately stated, “It’s highly possible that they have been targeted for their appearance or weight in the past. Unfortunately, people can be cruel.”
“As they continued to mock catfishers, one person stated that the reason they do it is because they are unable to take responsibility for their own actions. They often try to shift the blame onto something or someone else. They refuse to acknowledge their own fault in catfishing people and instead claim that they were driven to it by others’ cruelty.”
Despite this, there were some commenters who were unable to understand the idea of using a fake identity and disagreed with using bullying as a justification for doing so. One person wrote, “I have been a victim of bullying for numerous years, but I have never resorted to deceiving someone online.”
Another person expressed their understanding for why a catfisher may seek validation, but disagreed with their emotional manipulation of others. The commenter also stated that catfishers are no different from the bullies they often target.
Despite the various motivations behind catfishing, it is evident that people are drawn to the stories, as evidenced by Catfish’s ongoing success. The show, now in its ninth season, continues to air every Tuesday on MTV.
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