Why Hoodfishing is Shaking Up NYC’s Dating Scene
- Dating App News
- Aug 22, 2024
- 3 min read
Hoodfishing: A new dating trend where singles fake their location to boost matches, complicating romance in NYC.
The world of dating has undergone a remarkable transformation over the years. Gone are the days when people would rely solely on mutual friends or chance encounters to find a partner. Today, online dating has become the new normal, with dating apps, social media platforms, and digital communication shaping the way people connect. As this digital landscape evolves, so does the vocabulary that describes the ups and downs of modern romance. One of the latest trends to emerge is known as "hoodfishing."
Hoodfishing is a term used to describe the act of misrepresenting one's location on online dating profiles. This phenomenon is particularly popular in the New York City area, where individuals from surrounding regions—such as Long Island, Westchester, and New Jersey—falsely claim to live in the city. Hoodfishers aim to make themselves more attractive to potential matches by appearing as if they reside in the vibrant, fast-paced environment of New York City. Essentially, they hope to cast a wider net and appeal to a broader audience, even if that means stretching the truth about where they live.
This trend shares similarities with the more widely known concept of "catfishing," in which individuals create entirely false personas online. However, in the case of hoodfishing, it is the location that is being falsified rather than one’s identity. While it may seem like a harmless fib, hoodfishing can complicate dating logistics, especially when it comes to meeting up in person. Potential couples may struggle to coordinate dates when they discover that they are actually much farther apart than their profiles initially suggested.
The hoodfishing phenomenon was recently brought to light by comedian Jared Fried, who shared his experiences on TikTok. Fried noticed a curious pattern: individuals who claimed to live in New York City on their profiles but were actually located in places like Long Island or Westchester. As a result, he often found himself in frustrating situations where coordinating a date proved challenging due to the unexpected distance between himself and his potential match.
"Every few conversations on a dating app, there's a woman who's like, 'Oh, I live in Westchester,' or 'I live on Long Island,' even though their profiles say they're located in the city," Fried shared in one of his viral TikToks. His observations have resonated with many daters who have encountered similar struggles in their quest for love.
Despite the difficulties hoodfishing may present, many women have defended the practice. Some argue that it has significantly boosted their chances of finding a match. One woman from central New Jersey admitted that she changed her location to Midtown Manhattan on her dating profile and quickly saw a rise in matches. After just two months of hoodfishing, she successfully found a partner.
"For as long as men height-fish, income-fish, and marital status-fish, I will keep hoodfishing," one woman declared in the comments section of Fried’s video, sparking a larger conversation about the digital dishonesty that occurs on both sides of the dating game.
Ultimately, hoodfishing is a reflection of the larger complexities that come with online dating. As more people turn to digital platforms to find romance, new trends and tactics will continue to emerge. Whether hoodfishing is seen as a harmless way to increase dating prospects or as a deceptive act that complicates relationships, one thing is clear: honesty in the world of online dating remains a hot topic.