Wokefishing - meaning and definition
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Definition
Pretending to hold progressive or socially aware views, usually on a dating profile, to appear more attractive to potential matches who care about those values.
At a glance
- Faking progressive values to seem more dateable.
- Like catfishing, but about beliefs rather than looks.
- Real views tend to surface as the relationship develops.
- Actions over time say more than profile slogans.
In detail
Wokefishing is a twist on catfishing that is about values instead of looks. Someone might list causes, use the right vocabulary or post at protests to match the politics of the people they want to date, while their real views or behaviour turn out to be quite different once the relationship develops.
It can be hurtful because shared values are often a key reason people choose each other. Paying attention to how someone acts, not just what they say or post, is a common way people try to spot the gap.
In a sentence
- His bio was all activism, then he mocked my pronoun pin. Total wokefishing.
- I worry about wokefishing, so I ask what people actually do, not just what they believe.
Where the word comes from
Appeared in online dating journalism around 2020, when many profiles began to list political and social values.
Not to be confused with
- Catfishing
Catfishing involves a fake identity; wokefishing is a real person faking their values.
Common questions
Is wokefishing the same as catfishing?
No. Catfishing uses a false identity or fake photos. Wokefishing is a real person misrepresenting their beliefs.
How do people spot wokefishing?
Common tips are to talk about values in specific, everyday terms, notice how the person treats others, and look for consistency between their words and their actions over time.