In 2019, When Kendall Jenner Opened Up About Her “Weak” War With acne, he received a lot of sympathy and attention from his millions of followers. However, it was short-lived as everyone soon realized that the Instagram post was a paid advertisement for a skincare brand. This has led journalist Rebecca Reid to coin the term ‘sadfishing’ – an act of making exaggerated emotional claims online in order to gain attention, likes, followers or sympathy,
While sadfishing is a much more recent term, the online behavior of fishing for empathy and attention is not new, and most people are familiar with the act – whether they have seen others do it or have done it themselves. remember those who cry selfies, Secret Quotes and Emotional Sayings? Yes, you got it!
But, what is made on every sensitive post social media Attempting to gain sympathy and attention? The matter is much more complicated! Let’s delve deeper into sadfishing to find out what it really means, and how to deal with a post like this.
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What is Sadfishing?
Simply put, sadfishing is a behavioral trend where people share deeply emotional and personal content on social media to generate sympathy or attention. “It is imperative that we look behind the nomenclature here. Sadfishing is a connotation of deliberate exaggeration, opinion manipulation, and the creation of a story that is ultimately harmful to the people who are actually posting out Problem And want to connect with others,” said physician Shoma Chakraborty.
The expert stressed that it is important to acknowledge that “for every sad post that is a publicity gimmick, there may be many more who are posting about their real crisis and need to be noticed and supported.” are expecting”.
Why do people indulge in sadfishing?
According to Dr Sugami Ramesh, Clinical Psychologist and Senior Consultant, Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore, people post sad posts on social media, because of the easy accessibility of such platforms, as opposed to the olden days. In the digital age, where social media has become an extension of itself, people tend to express their views feelings which they would not have done otherwise.
Elaborating on the same, Mimansa Singh Tanwar, Clinical Psychologist and Head, Fortis School Mental Health Program, Fortis Healthcare Limited said, “Sick Modes of emotional expression have always been prevalent and can be seen in some individuals with low self-esteem or emotional dysregulation and lack of skills to deal with difficulties. Social media becomes another medium of expression of emotion where one seeks validation and engages in conformity.”
“Adolescents and young adults are on an intense journey to be themselves,” said Chakraborty (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
To understand why people go sadfishing on social media, it is important to determine which age group is more vulnerable. mental health Experts argue that teens and young adults are more likely to engage in this type of online behavior. According to the Tech Control Annual Report by HMC and Digital Awareness UK, troubled youth between the ages of 11 and 16 seek emotional support online and feel bad when others call them out for attention. This is because they are from the age group that suffers the most Loneliness,
Explaining the reason behind this, Chakraborty said, “Adolescents and young adults are on an intense journey to be themselves. They can often feel like their struggles are incredibly unique and deeply misunderstood by others. Their own life stories, with their pain and loss, can take on the proportions of a personal myth that they need to share with the world and find support. Significant mental health challenges like difficult family relationshipsComing to terms with your identity, and finding your footing in colleges and first job are also grueling experiences. ,
Is it just an attention-getter?
Maybe not. While many people dismiss such posts as “attention-seeking” and “empathy-seeking,” there is likely to be a larger psychological issue at play. Tanwar said, “To say that it is done to gain attention or to elicit sympathy would be to label and label the behavior in a judgmental manner.”
Chakraborty agreed and said, “What we call attention-grabbing most often is nothing but the reaction of a person in distress. We live in a time that is witnessing unprecedented levels of mental anguish, social marked by unrest and the almost collapse of the world as we knew it. Epidemic, Such times are bound to reflect our moods, emotions and life experiences, fragments of which are painted as canvas on social media. ,
As such, it is important to look beyond the ranks and address the bigger problems: widespread loneliness, feelings of inadequacy, or being overwhelmed by the relentless and demanding lives that people live today. “Other challenges such as trouble expressing one’s feelings or having difficulty navigating conflict through dialogue can also show up in stark displays or posting highly personal content. These examples can often highlight gaps in skills that have not yet been developed with respect to emotion, intimacy. Communications, and conflict resolution. Persistent oversharing is neither proof of vulnerability nor authenticity. Of course, there is a possibility of people using social media to validate their struggles and then loop into product endorsements or paid partnerships,” the expert further explained.
Risks associated with Sadfishing
For attention or for help – whatever the reason – the results of sadfishing may not always be favorable. “The pitfalls of sadfishing on social media platforms are the ravages of cyberbullying, especially when your posts are genuine and authentic. For example, being ridiculed or named for feeling sad or anxious can make a previously vulnerable child more can lead to drowning depression“Experience more anxiety, or start to believe they don’t really count,” said Dr Pallavi Joshi, consultant psychologist at the Shree Balaji Action Medical Institute, New Delhi.
Calling it “counterproductive”, Chakraborty said, “It is a way of allegedly seeking support which ultimately calls into question the need for the same support. Additionally, the support received through Sadfishing Post is similar to that of real person-to-person. May not be as strong as benefits Conversations are of crisis. The neurological benefits of social support rest on its integrity, which can be hard to establish on social media. ,
He highlighted that the addictive nature of social media likes is another drawback of sadfishing. “We know enough from research to predictably link validation to negatively themed posts, and more and more time spent on social media to post-verification. symptoms of depression, Some of this is due to potential social media stops triggering a cycle of posts seeking validation, and that validation that follows feels hollow or momentary. ,
Cyberbullying is a possible result of sadfishing (file photo)
Tanwar asked people to develop healthy ways of dealing with critical situations – talking to friends and family, engaging in activities that bring a sense of calm and positive emotions Or contact a mental health professional if you believe that emotional reactions are out of your control and the intensity of the crisis persists.
What can a parent/guardian do
The role of parents cannot be ignored when it comes to their child’s online behavior. As such, parents should monitor their social media activities to understand potential mental distress They may be discussing it with you and providing them with a safe place to discuss it with you. “The best thing would be to discuss their issues. Show concern and have healthy conversations with them. Make children feel comfortable discussing and don’t force them to discuss. Give them space,” said Dr Ramesh.
According to Dr Joshi, here are some things you must do as a parent.
*Check and limit your child’s use of social media.
*Discuss strong issues with yourself baby,
*Teach them how to take social media breaks.
* Teach your child that social media is not a true reflection of people’s lives.
*encourage physical activity and external interests.
How should you respond to sad posts?
We all come across our social media feeds regularly sadfishing. The question is – should we ignore them or reach out to the person concerned? Experts tell.
“A good starting point would be to reach out to the person directly and ask them how they are doing with our hearing,” Chakraborty said. In addition, it is suggested to respond to such posts sympathetically, not critically.
Here are some things you can do.
*If you see a sad post, get in touch with that person via private message, phone call or personal discussion.
* Check in with your friends and give them encouraging words.
*inform yourself friend that you watch over them, and do not judge them.
* If a friend feels insecure, encourage them to seek comfort.
*Being able to access online can be empowering for some. This can help them validate their passion and make their voices heard.
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