What is Sadfishing?

In our digital world, posting about our lives online has become part of daily life. From celebrations to struggles, many people find comfort in sharing with others on social media. A newer trend researchers are exploring is called sadfishing—when sadness is shared in a way that feels exaggerated or when emotional struggles are posted publicly to gain attention, sympathy, or followers.

The term first surfaced after celebrities were criticized for posting emotional stories online, but it has since become especially relevant for teens and young adults who use platforms like TikTok and Instagram as spaces to connect.

Why Do People Sadfish?

It’s important to remember: sadfishing is rarely about manipulation. Often, it reflects deeper emotional needs. From a neuroscience perspective, humans are wired to seek connection. Sharing sadness can activate the brain’s social bonding systems—releasing oxytocin (the “connection hormone”) and dopamine (the “reward chemical”). When likes or comments roll in, the brain interprets this as validation, creating a temporary sense of relief.

For those with anxious attachment styles (where there is a fear of rejection and a strong need for reassurance) posting online can feel like a way to soothe relational anxiety. However, the brain’s reward cycle can also create a feedback loop: post → receive validation → feel relief → need to post again. This loop can make people more vulnerable to hurtful responses or disappointment when validation doesn’t come.

The Double-Edged Sword of Sadfishing

There are benefits to sharing emotions online—many people find genuine community and feel less alone. But there are also risks when sadness is shared without boundaries or becomes the main way of coping.

Potential impacts include:

• Increased exposure to negative comments or cyberbullying.
• People becoming skeptical of genuine cries for help.
• Heightened feelings of isolation if support is absent or turns hostile.
• The brain’s stress systems (amygdala, cortisol release) becoming more activated, making sadness feel even more overwhelming.
  

Tips for Navigating Sadfishing in Healthy Ways

For Teens & Young Adults:

1. Pause and reflect on intentions. Ask yourself: “Am I posting to connect, or am I hoping to go viral?”
2. Set boundaries for what you share. Not every emotion needs to live online—sometimes journaling, talking to a trusted friend, or bringing it into therapy can feel safer.
3. Build offline support. Real-life validation activates long-term neural pathways for connection, whereas likes and comments are short-term bursts. Consider joining community groups, sports, or simply planning in-person time with friends and family.
4. Protect your privacy. Oversharing can put you at risk of unwanted attention or misunderstanding. Giving your brain space to process before posting can help you feel more grounded.
   

For Friends & Followers:

• Respond with empathy. A simple message like “I’m here” can calm the nervous system far more than hundreds of likes.
• Check in offline. Nervous systems co-regulate in real time—meaning your voice, presence, or shared activity can actually help your friend’s brain feel safer.
• Encourage professional support if you’re worried about someone’s safety. In emergencies, calling 911 or a local crisis line is always the safest choice.
  

Why This Matters Beyond the Screen

Sadfishing points to bigger questions about how our brains and bodies process emotion in a digital age. If sadness becomes content, the distinction between authentic expression and unhealthy attention-seeking can blur, sometimes making it harder for people to trust each other online.

For parents, educators, and policymakers, this highlights the importance of digital literacy alongside mental health education. Teaching young people about the neuroscience of connection—why our brains crave validation, and why too much online sharing can backfire—helps them develop healthier coping tools.

Final Thought

It’s always okay to feel sad—and it’s always okay to want support. While social media can provide connection, your feelings don’t need to become content to be valid. At VOX Mental Health, we help teens build safe offline connections, understand how their brains respond to attention and validation, and develop coping strategies that protect both mental health and relationships. Therapy can be a space to explore your emotions safely, without judgement, and strengthen resilience for life—online and offline. Looking for support? We are here to help!

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References (APA 6th Edition)
Petrofes, C., Howard, K., Mayberry, A., Bitney, C., & Ceballos, N. (2024). Sad-fishing:
Understanding a maladaptive social media behavior in college students. Journal of American
College Health, 72(8), 2352–2356. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2132110
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Putri, C. E., Damayanti, N., & Hamzah, R. E. (2020). Sadfishing phenomenon of
#JusticeforAudrey (Hashtag) on Twitter. MediaTor: Jurnal Komunikasi, 13(1), 58–67.
https://doi.org/10.29313/mediator.v13i1.5598
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Ramadhani, A. P., Putri, C. E., & Hamzah, R. E. (2022). Trends of sadfishing phenomenon and
disappearance of self-privacy on social media TikTok. Journal of Social Political Sciences,
3(3), 291–300.