What is kittenfishing in dating?
Asked by: Mrs. Alberta Hettinger Sr. | Last update: February 13, 2026Score: 4.4/5 (15 votes)
Kittenfishing is a mild form of online dating deception where someone subtly misrepresents themselves to appear more attractive, using small lies or exaggerations about age, height, job, or filtered photos, unlike catfishing which involves creating a completely fake identity. It's presenting an idealized version of yourself, hoping your personality will win someone over in person, but it often leads to disappointment and trust issues when the reality doesn't match the profile.
What is kittenfishing in a relationship?
While not as extreme as catfishing (creating a fake identity online), kittenfishing involves presenting a slightly distorted version of yourself to appear more attractive to others. It might not seem harmful at first, but this subtle form of misrepresentation can significantly impact trust and connection in dating.
What is the difference between catfishing and kittenfishing?
"Kittenfishing" may sound adorable but it's not exactly the cat's meow when it comes to online dating. Kittenfishing is the baby form of catfishing. It's not as egregious as catfishing, the practice of creating a completely fake identity online to fool or con others.
What is the meaning of kitten fishing?
What does kittenfishing mean? Based on the internet slang term catfishing, kittenfishing is the act of making oneself appear more desirable in online dating apps, especially through the use of old or edited photos and inflated profile descriptions.
What is paperclipping in dating?
Paperclipping is a toxic dating trend where a former partner or interest unexpectedly reappears with brief, casual messages (like "Hey, how are you?") to see if you're still interested, keeping you as a backup option without any real intention of commitment or a deeper connection, similar to Microsoft's old Clippy assistant popping up unhelpfully. It's emotionally shallow, often involves sporadic contact and ghosting, and serves to boost the paperclipper's ego or fill loneliness, rather than build a real relationship, leaving the recipient confused and hurt.
What Is Kittenfishing On Dating Apps? - Be App Savvy
What is the 777 rule in dating?
The 777 dating rule is a relationship strategy for maintaining connection by scheduling quality time: a date every 7 days, a night away every 7 weeks, and a longer romantic holiday every 7 months, preventing couples from becoming complacent and nurturing their bond through consistent, intentional focus. It's about creating rhythm, not rigid perfection, ensuring regular reconnection through simple or elaborate activities to build intimacy, trust, and prevent drifting apart.
What does BP mean in dating?
In archaeology, geology, and other sciences, BP stands for "Before Present," a time scale where "present" is fixed at the year 1950, used primarily for radiocarbon dating; so, 10,000 BP means 10,000 years before 1950 (around 9750 BCE), providing a consistent reference point for dates, often using "cal BP" for calibrated calendar dates or "RCYBP" for raw radiocarbon years before present.
What is the 333 rule in dating apps?
The 333 rule in dating apps is a viral guideline suggesting you evaluate a potential partner at three key checkpoints: after 3 dates, assess basic attraction and connection; after 3 weeks, observe consistent effort and behavior; and after 3 months, decide if you see long-term potential and should become official or part ways amicably, helping to avoid "situationships". It's a framework to gauge compatibility beyond initial sparks and prevent rushing into commitment, focusing on real-world interaction.
What are three signs that you are being catfished?
Three key signs of being catfished are: avoiding video calls/meetings, having an inconsistent or too-perfect story, and a lack of real social media presence (few friends, new account, stolen photos), often combined with asking for money, which signals manipulation. These tactics allow catfishers to hide their true identity while building a fast, intense connection to exploit you.
Who is most likely to be catfished?
Though both men and women fall prey to catfishing, women are more likely to be victims, as are people with anxious attachments. Online daters should exercise caution—especially when a potential date seems "too good to be true."
What is the 3 day rule on Tinder?
The "Tinder 3-Day Rule" usually refers to either the "3-day talking rule" (meet within three days of matching to avoid endless texting) or the old-school "wait three days to call" rule (to seem less eager), though the latter is often considered outdated on apps like Tinder where speed is key. A modern interpretation is the "3-day talking rule," encouraging moving from app chat to an in-person date quickly (e.g., coffee) to gauge real chemistry, preventing online relationships from fizzling out, notes Zoosk.
What is the red flag in online dating?
Online dating red flags include vague or missing profiles, overly sexual or aggressive messages, asking for money/personal info, excessive complaining about dating apps, only group photos, avoiding meeting in person, and being rude or disrespectful (e.g., about exes or service staff). Key indicators of potential romance scams or manipulation involve rapidly escalating intimacy, financial requests, requests for explicit photos, and inconsistencies in their story or behavior.
What are the signs of a dating scammer?
To spot a dating scammer, watch for aggressive love-bombing, requests for money (especially for emergencies or travel), refusal to video chat or meet in person with constant excuses, and an inconsistent or fake-sounding backstory, often with poor grammar. They typically try to move off the dating app quickly, have profiles that seem too perfect, and use stolen photos, so a reverse image search is key to catching them.
What does pocketing mean in dating?
Pocketing in dating is when someone hides their romantic partner from their friends, family, and social circles, making the relationship feel secret or non-existent to the outside world, even while being intimate privately. Signs include no social media posts, avoiding public affection, and making excuses not to meet loved ones, leaving the pocketed partner feeling insecure, hidden, and unworthy.
What is the creepiness rule in dating?
The “creepiness rule” states that the youngest you should date is “half your age plus seven. According to this rule, society should accept a 50 year old man dating a 32 year old woman.
What does submarining mean in dating?
Submarining. In contrast, submarining involves a person disappearing for a period and then reappearing, attempting to reestablish contact without addressing their previous absence. This behavior can confuse the other person and disrupt their process of moving on.
How to outsmart a catfisher?
Approaches to dealing with a catfish
- Check if their photos and messages are real - You can do a reverse image search on Google . ...
- Ask them to meet you face to face - If the relationship was serious the individual would be desperate to meet you face to face no matter the circumstances. ...
- Never give them money - Never.
How to detect a scammer by photo?
Fake profiles and scammers often use images from other people's social media or websites. With AI reverse image search, you can easily find out the fake image, which will also help you identify the scammers who are using stolen pictures.
What do catfishers do with photos?
A catfisher may steal someone's photographs and create a new identity, as Donald did; pretend to be the person depicted in a real photo (such as a celebrity); create all-new photos of attractive people using generative AI; or copy and alter photos from sources such as social media and Google Images.
What is the 3 6 9 rule in dating?
The 3-6-9 dating rule is a framework for relationship progression, marking key phases: 3 months (honeymoon phase), 6 months (conflict/reality check), and 9 months (decision/solidification) to gauge compatibility by navigating challenges and seeing a partner's true colors before major commitments like moving in or marriage, helping to build a strong, realistic foundation by seeing good, bad, and ugly.
What are the 5 C's of dating?
The "5 Cs of dating" offer guidelines for building healthy connections, with common versions focusing on Communication, Compatibility/Commonality, Chemistry, Consistency/Commitment, and Compassion/Character, though interpretations vary slightly, emphasizing open talk, shared values, attraction, reliability, and kindness as crucial pillars for a thriving relationship. These principles help assess if a connection is built to last beyond initial excitement, focusing on mutual respect and support.
What not to say on a dating app?
From generic openers like "Hey" or "Hi" that show zero effort, to backhanded comments that start with "I don't usually date [insert preference] but...", these messaging blunders will have potential matches swiping left on your conversation.
What does CE mean in a date?
CE stands for “common (or current) era”, while BCE stands for “before the common (or current) era”.
What is archaeomagnetic dating?
Archaeomagnetic dating is the study of the past magnetic field of the Earth, as recorded by fired archaeological materials and sediments, and interpreting this information to date past events.
What is YBP?
YBP is an abbreviation for "years before present". Formation of Earth: 4.6x10^9 YBP. Dinosaur extinction: 6.5x10^7 YBP. First hominids: 2x10^6 YBP. Last great ice age: 1x10^4 YBP.