Sadfishing. You could save someone’s life.

Sadfishing. It seems quite innocent at first. But, if you look a little closer, it can be quite toxic and damaging. And yet, when you see sadfishing, by taking action, you could save someone’s life.

But what exactly is sad fishing anyways? I’ll explain by giving an example. Let’s say a guy named Dale is sad because he got into a fight with his friend. Dale goes on social media and posts images and comments about what he is going through. He may post memes about what his friend said to him. Maybe a picture of himself crying. He posts these images in the hope that someone will take notice and ask “Are you ok?” 

Sounds innocent enough, right? What could be harmful about putting yourself out there and sharing your feelings?  

According to @sheknows, “A recent Digital Awareness UK (DAUK) report based on face-to-face interviews with 50,000 schoolchildren, says accusations of Sadfishing is damaging to a teenager’s self-esteem and may lead to bullying.”

On the other hand, sadfishing has a silver lining.  If you see this happening to one of your friends, it can be seen as a red flag for help. Here’s where you come in. When you see this happening, it’s time for you to step up to the plate and do something about it. Of course, it will be incredibly hard and will require a great deal of courage to do this; however, it must be done. You don’t know how sad your friend actually is and therefore, by noticing the sadfishing, and taking the required steps to help, you could save someone’s life.

But how?

As always, whenever there needs to be a voice of reason from a professional, I welcome it. What better excuse to bring one of my advisory board members, Dr. Michelle Persyko to share some insight on this subject.

What do you think of sadfishing? Could it be harmless, or not?


Sadfishing is sensitive and complex as some people may be crying wolf and seeking attention whereas others might be truly in distress. This is tricky for a tween or teen to sort through. Ultimately one needs to err on the side of caution and concern.

My advice from here forward is in regard to how to respond if there is legitimate concern about one’s well-being and mental health, which may overlap with the reasons for sadfishing.

Your friend may say that they are feeling lonely and when you are together, may seem unusually quiet. They also could talk negatively about themselves. Your friend can also complain of being tired all the time, even after sleeping a healthy number of hours. Another symptom is that they could be moody or unusually angry and/or snippy. In addition, they could turn you down to get together, even for a short walk or a face time phone call. In general, your friend is communicating less, is absent and less active in their usual forms of communication, and will often complain that they are bored and being disinterested in things that used to interest them. A decrease in appetite is also a sign that something is wrong.

What to do?

A friend may mention something about harming themselves or about death and dying. This can be on a social media post or face to face. When this occurs, it needs to be shared with a trusted adult immediately.  Even if they aren’t talking about harming themselves. let your friend know what you are noticing their behavior. Ask if they want to talk about it.  Let your friend know that you care about them and that you are concerned that they need help that you cannot provide, but that someone else can. Tell them you think it would be a good idea to speak with someone who could help. 

I am so grateful for my advisory board. Professional advice to clarify and help explain a subject that goes beyond my level of expertise.

My perspective? Social media can be a great and fun way to connect. However, it also can be revealing to a person’s mental health state. When you see suspicious posts, you shouldn’t ignore it. It may be harmless or it may be a serious cry for help.

When you see Sadfishing, dig a little deeper – you could save someone’s life.

💫

I’m so grateful to be able to have the opportunity to write what I’m passionate about and what I think will serve others. If you would like me to write about you and your passions for the Braves The Waves Journal, or for your own company, please be in touch.