In 2010 Catfish the documentary film came to our eyes. The independent movie made by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, depicted the journey of Yaniv ‘Nev’ Schulman as he built a romantic relationship online through Facebook and went on to meet her. However, the story didn’t end exactly the way all romances do.
It turned out that the young female, Megan, he’d been chatting to, wasn’t her at all, but a middle aged woman with two disabled children. He went on to find that the art that had been sent to him hadn’t been made by Abby, the child prodigy and younger sister of Megan, but Angela, the mother and woman who turned out to be all of characters Nev had befriended online and spoken to. She had created them all to convince Nev that she was Megan Pierce; young, blonde and attractive.
The film inspired a TV series and even the nickname of lying online for romantic purposes; ‘Catfishing’ someone or being ‘Catfished’. Where does it come from? Well whilst talking to Angela’s husband in the film, he tells us the story of the problem when live cod is shipped to Asia from North America. Because of the long journey and inactivity, the flesh becomes mushy and ill. So, to keep the cod active they place catfish inside to nip at the cod and keep them active. He concludes the story by explaining that Angela is like the catfish as life would be ‘dull and boring if we didn’t have someone nipping at our fins’. Very strange, but the name has stuck and become an accepted jargon.
And so, the television show follows a similar pattern to the film. This time, Nev has been joined by Max Joseph and an MTV crew. As a duo, they receive emails online asking for help to meet their love interests online. Some have even been talking to them for ten years! Nev and Max travel out to meet the sender in need, where they interview and try to get as much information out of them so they can investigate. They use Facebook and other social networks to begin to unravel any lies or hidden secrets. Throughout the first season I don’t think there was a single episode where the person hadn’t lied. In one, the person they were helping had been the Catfisher and not Catfished.
Reasons why you should watch this show? If that wasn’t enough, I’ll give you a little more.
If you’ve ever met someone online or thought about doing it, this show will sum up all those emotions, fears and concerns in one. I can safely say I’ve never met anyone online that has turned out to be a liar or not who they said they were, but I know it happens.
As they’re driving to meet up with the potential Catfisher, you get nervous butterflies in your stomach as if you’re in their shoes. Sometimes you’re praying they’re going to be who they say they are and other times, you know what’s about to happen and you’re on the edge of your seat waiting for their reactions. As the door opens, your eyes are glued to the screen; Catfish or genuine? It’s all part of the excitement.
It’s the only television show I know of that makes you feel within the action and part of the journey. It’s one of a kind and covers a very modern issue that has only sprung up because of social networking. They’re not saying don’t meet people online, they’re telling you to be cautious and look for the signs. To be honest, if you don’t already look for those signs or see those are flashing red lights screaming at you, then you shouldn’t be dating online.
