In Real Life: Love, Lies & Identity in the Digital Age

Schulman, host of MTV's Catfish: The TV Show and star of the documentary that spawned it, knows a thing or two about "catfish"—people who create one or more false identities online and enter into deceptive relationships. Here he provides an examination and guide to Internet communication that also serves as a Catfish companion piece and even a self-help memoir. The author blends his own story of being catfished into the narrative and uses examples from the show to explore what motivates such duping (revenge, insecurity, and financial gain, to name a few) and what makes people vulnerable to it. He acknowledges that simply not talking to strangers online isn't realistic for many and offers ways to stay safe. For people who may become catfish, Schulman, without judgment, suggests making positive changes in one's real life ("Your prospects are only as good as you make them"), rather than creating a false online ideal, which will be ultimately unsatisfying. He concludes by advocating for face-to-face communication and the advantages of enjoying a situation, instead of simply documenting it for the sake of social media.