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.
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The demand for transparency
The good news is that many daters are seeking more transparency when it comes to facial hair. 36% of users want to see men with different facial hair styles in their dating profiles, and 40% wish profiles to show men both with and without facial hair. This indicates a growing preference for honesty and authenticity in online dating.
Victims of beardfishing speak out
Some singletons have shared their experiences of being “beardfished.” Rhiannon, a 30-year-old from London, recounted meeting dates who looked drastically different in person due to their facial hair. She described feeling “tricked” and “catfished,” emphasizing the importance of accurate representation in dating profiles. Another dater, a 23-year-old from Cardiff, expressed disappointment when a date showed up with an unkempt beard after appearing clean-shaven online. This experience left them feeling as if the person didn’t care about their appearance, highlighting the impact that beardfishing can have on first impressions.