A free online safety guide on Sadfishing.

‘Sadfishing’ is a behavioural online trend where people make exaggerated claims about their emotional problems to generate sympathy and attention. The term was coined in early 2019 by a blogger who used the term to describe certain celebrities who allegedly embellish their emotional difficulties to engender sympathy online and thus gain more followers. The phrase has now gained more widespread traction and is seen as a growing trend on social media. The challenge with sadfishing is that it can sometimes cause legitimate problems to be dismissed or overlooked, while some young people have also been bullied for having shared their genuine problems online.

In this guide, you'll find tips on avoiding potential risks such as oversharing, cyberbullying and online grooming.