The term “catfishing” has become deeply embedded in our internet vocabulary, especially with the popularity of MTV’s Catfish: The TV Show. You might know that being catfished means someone is deceiving you by creating a fake online persona. But have you ever stopped to wonder, Why Is It Called Catfishing in the first place? It’s a fair question. After all, catfish aren’t exactly known for their trickery in the natural world.
To understand the origin of this curious term, we need to dive into the story behind the term “catfish” itself, which interestingly, comes from the 2010 documentary Catfish, featuring Nev Schulman, who later became the host of the MTV show. In the documentary, Nev experiences an online relationship with a woman named ‘Megan’ who turns out to be Angela, a middle-aged woman. Angela had fabricated an elaborate online identity, complete with numerous fake social media profiles to make ‘Megan’ seem real.
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The documentary reveals the metaphorical explanation for “catfishing” from Angela’s husband, Vince. He recounts a tale about live cod being shipped from Alaska to China. To keep the cod active and prevent them from becoming sluggish during the long journey, catfish were added to the vats. The catfish, by their nature, would nip at the cod and keep them moving, thus preserving the quality of the cod. According to Vince, Angela was his “catfish,” someone who made life more interesting and active for those around her, including her online interactions with Nev. Essentially, she was stirring things up, keeping things lively, even if through deception.
Interestingly, the Boston Globe and Yahoo! Entertainment point out that this very story of catfish and cod is likely a myth, possibly originating from early 20th-century fiction writers. So, the term “catfishing” is rooted in a metaphor that itself may be based on a fictional anecdote!
Therefore, the reason why is it called catfishing comes down to this somewhat ironic origin story. Just as catfish were supposedly introduced to keep cod alert, people who “catfish” others online inject a level of excitement, albeit deceptive, into the lives of their victims. It’s a term born from a story within a story, adding another layer to the already complex world of online identity and deception that Catfish: The TV Show continues to explore. The show’s enduring popularity proves how much this term, and the phenomenon it describes, has resonated in the digital age.
