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CATFISHING DALAM PENIPUAN ASMARA ONLINE di FILM SWEET BOBBY: MY CATFISHING NIGHTMARE

Widyaningrum, Sherlyna ; Utari, Prahastiwi ; Alkhajar, Eka Nada Shofa (2026) — Lektur: Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi

DOI: 10.21831/lektur.v9i1.27033
Type:   Journal Article
Country:   United Kingdom
Tags:   AI misuse, catfishing, online dating deception, Identity Deception Theory, semiotics, Roland Barthes, film analysis, digital literacy, online safety, digital identity, online relationships, film, IDT, identity deception, online dating, romance fraud, digital narratives, film semiotics, Sweet Bobby, online romance fraud, social media, grooming and control

Synopsis (AI-Generated)

This study is qualitative-descriptive, combining Identity Deception Theory (IDT) and Barthes semiotics to analyze nine scenes from Sweet Bobby: My Catfishing Nightmare. Primary data comprise dialogue, visuals, and scene content; secondary data come from literature on catfishing, IDT, and semiotics. The paper concludes that vulnerability is represented as arising from powerful digital signs and narratives rather than from a lack of vigilance. The film representation shows catfishing as the construction of a convincing digital narrative that makes a victim believe a fabricated reality. Limitation: The study is restricted to nine scenes from one film, limiting generalization to other media or cases.

Identified Gaps (AI-Generated)

The research is limited to a single film and uses qualitative, descriptive analysis, which restricts generalizability and may reflect researcher subjectivity. There is no empirical data from victims or platform-level analysis, and no cross-media or cross-cultural comparison. Future work should incorporate additional media objects, empirical perspectives from victims, and methodological triangulation.

Methods (AI-Generated)

Method: This study is qualitative-descriptive, combining Identity Deception Theory (IDT) and Barthes semiotics to analyze nine scenes from Sweet Bobby: My Catfishing Nightmare. Primary data comprise dialogue, visuals, and scene content; secondary data come from literature on catfishing, IDT, and semiotics. The analysis involved viewing the complete film, selecting relevant scenes, identifying signs in each scene, and interpreting denotation, connotation, and myth to reveal how digital signs construct false identities and affect audience perceptions.

Limitations (AI-Generated)

Limitation: The study is restricted to nine scenes from one film, limiting generalization to other media or cases. As a qualitative interpretive analysis dependent on visual and verbal signs, findings may be affected by researcher subjectivity and cultural context. The denotation-connotation-myth approach may overlook alternative readings or audience reinterpretations. No empirical data from real respondents are included, so the results describe representations rather than actual catfishing behavior.

Future Work (AI-Generated)

This study could be extended by analyzing catfishing representations across multiple media (documentaries, films, social media content) and by triangulating with interviews or testimonies from real victims to assess real-world impact. Additional theories could be applied to broaden interpretation (beyond IDT and Barthes) and mixed-methods approaches could examine audience reception, digital literacy interventions, and effectiveness of educational strategies to prevent identity deception online.

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AI-Generated Content Notice

The synopsis and research notes on this page were generated with AI from available publication information and, when available, the uploaded paper text. They may contain errors, omissions, or interpretation issues. Readers should follow the DOI or source link, review the original publication, and make their own judgment about the content.

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