What Are The Pros And Cons Of Catfishing

“Honestly, I [random teenager] sometimes truly wish that ‘tools’ such as the iPhone (or any smartphone), laptops, iPads, tablets, etc. hadn’t been invented… the way teenagers abuse them, and turn them into mini social control rooms is frankly awful” (Disadvantages of Social Networking). Although teenagers are not the only users of social media, researchers have shown that the majority of teens have a social media account(s). “63% of online teens go online daily” (Lenhart 5). The over usage of social media decreases the productivity of everyday life, because some people have too much time invested into social media. Although social media has consumed the lives of some americans, there are a few positives that can come from social media, such as; “friends, empathy, speedy communication, keeping in …show more content…
Catfishing is when you pretend to be someone you are not on Facebook or other social networks or even through email to create a false identity to deceive someone into developing an online romance” (What is Catfishing?). Catfishing allows someone to act or speak in such a way without receiving consequences in one’s real life. False identity has always occurred, even before the creation of social media. However, this new discovery allowed for so many more false identifications to arise. Users were communicating through social media without always knowing who was on the other end. This new form of communication allowed for anybody at any time to portray any person or persona that was desired. Television shows promoted this new up and coming trend with shows like “Catfish” which brought together the victim and deceitful user. Although this show was intended to uncover those who hid behind the screen, it only brought to light the capabilities that lay ahead for those wanting a new sense of