A new dating trend is making waves among young people, and it’s not about ghosting or kittenfishing. It’s about something far hairier: beardfishing. This trend involves men misrepresenting their facial hair in their dating profiles, often leading to awkward and disappointing encounters.
What is beardfishing?
Similar to catfishing, where people create fake online identities, beardfishing involves men using photos in their dating profiles that don’t accurately reflect their current facial hair situation. This can range from showing a clean-shaven look when they currently have a beard to showcasing a well-groomed beard when they’re sporting a scraggly one, according to Tyla.
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Why do men beardfish?
According to a recent study by Wilkinson Sword, 47% of men admit to using photos on their dating profiles that don’t match their current facial hair. This could be due to a desire to appear more attractive or simply because they haven’t updated their photos in a while. However, the consequences of beardfishing can be significant, as it can create a sense of deception and mistrust.
The importance of facial hair in dating
It turns out that facial hair plays a bigger role in dating than one might think. The same study found that 27% of respondents consider facial hair a key factor in male attractiveness, just behind eye color and hairstyle. This suggests that men may feel pressure to present themselves in a certain way to appeal to potential partners.