Have you ever watched Catfish: The TV Show and wondered about the origin of its intriguing name? It’s a fair question. After all, the term “catfishing,” meaning to deceive someone online by creating a false persona, doesn’t immediately connect with the actual fish.
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The answer takes us back to the documentary that started it all: Catfish. Nev Schulman, the host of the MTV show, was the subject of this 2010 film. In the documentary, Nev experiences an online relationship with a woman he believes to be named ‘Megan.’ However, he soon discovers that ‘Megan’ is actually Angela, a married, middle-aged woman who fabricated an entire online identity, including numerous fake social media profiles to support the illusion.
The term “catfish” itself arises from a metaphor shared by Angela’s husband, Vince, in the documentary. He explains that when codfish were shipped from Alaska to China in tanks, they tended to be sluggish and lose quality during the journey. To combat this, catfish were added to the tanks. The catfish, being active fish, would keep the cod moving, thus ensuring they remained lively and of good quality upon arrival.
According to Vince, Angela was the “catfish” in her relationships, stirring things up and making life more interesting for those around her, including Nev. Therefore, “catfishing” became the metaphor for Angela’s deceptive actions and, by extension, for anyone creating false online personas. Interestingly, the Boston Globe points out that this anecdote about cod and catfish might actually be a myth, possibly originating from fictional writings in the early 20th century. So, the story behind “catfishing” is layered – a fictional metaphor describing a real act of online deception.
Despite its possibly mythical origin, the term “catfishing” stuck, especially after the success of Catfish: The TV Show. The show, now in its many seasons, continues to explore the complexities and often surprising realities of online relationships. And while Angela’s story might have seemed shocking initially, the numerous cases featured on the show highlight that her actions were just the tip of the iceberg in the world of online deception. The term “catfishing,” therefore, perfectly encapsulates the idea of someone who stirs the pot and creates a false sense of excitement or intrigue, even if based on lies.
