‘Bio-baiting’ is the latest toxic dating trend fooling singles: ‘Erodes trust’

“Bio-baiting” is bad for dating.

The pitfalls of online dating have been well-documented, with sinister singles lying about their ages, occupations, and physical appearances.

However, there’s another act that app users have been engaging in that is less insidious — but no less damaging.

“Bio-baiting” is the practice of “overselling” yourself in a dating app bio to make yourself seem more interesting and appealing, per a new report in Indy100.

A singleton might list activities that they rarely do, such as skiing, hiking, horseback riding, reading and cooking, in order to appear more cultured and well-rounded.

While it’s not lying per se, it’s misleading potential partners, leading to bad dates and disillusionment.

“The disappointment of meeting someone who doesn’t live up to their bio is a primary reason for dating app fatigue. It erodes trust and makes the entire process feel disingenuous,” Sylvia Linzalone, who works with the dating app Wisp, told Indy100.

A recent survey of Wisp users found a sizable 63 per cent “admitted to feeling let down after meeting someone who didn’t live up to their carefully polished dating app profile.”

“Look for specifics over vagaries,” Linzalone urged users. “A ‘traveller’ can be a red flag; someone who says ‘hiking the Andes next month’ is probably genuine.”

The guru says it’s important not to idealize a dating profile and meet the person in real life as soon as possible to stop building a fantasy in your mind.

“Bio-baiting” is just one of the latest toxic dating trends that stressed-out singles are having to contend with.

Those on the hunt for a beau are battling those who engage in “monkey-barring” and “Shrekking.”

“Monkey-barring” refers to the act of clinging to one partner while lining up another at the same time. “Shrekking,” meanwhile, pertains to a person who “dates down” and settles for an ugly partner in the hopes that they will be treated better.