kittenfishing

Blend of kitten +‎ catfishing. The word kitten is used because it is regarded as a less severe form of catfishing. Coined by dating app Hinge in 2017.

kittenfishing (uncountable)

1. (Internet, social media) The practice of presenting oneself in a more favorable or exaggerated light on dating apps or social media.
   • 2018, Amy Nickell, Confessions of a Single Mum: What It's Like When You're Expecting The Unexpected, Headline Publishing Group, page 53:

     To be fair, I catfished using my own non-pregnant photos so perhaps kittenfishing would be more apt. MTV, feel free to call me to discuss the concept further.

   • 2021 December 20, Rebecca Fearn, “Kittenfishing is the new dating trend doing the rounds, but what exactly is it? And are we guilty of doing it ourselves?”, in Glamour‎, archived from the original on 2024-04-30:

     Unfortunately, while kittenfishing is generally considered less ‘serious’ a dating app offence as catfishing (where you pretend to be an entirely different person completely), it can still be damaging, and pretty manipulative; indeed, you will feel duped and deceived when going on a date with somebody who has been telling little white lies from the beginning.

   • 2021, Jyoti Patel, The Awakening - Unheard. Undiscovered. Untold., Jyoti Patel, page 45:

     Its strange how ghosting, kittenfishing or orbiting in today’s times is so common personally, I also dislike all the modern things like cushioning, zombieing, and breadcrumbing. I believe modern dating terminology is perplexing and complicated.