Hairy truth behind new ‘beardfishing’ dating trend that’s taking over young people

Brace yourselves guys, there's a brand-new dating term you need to add to your dictionaries.

Now, we've already heard all about why 'alphabet dating' could help spice up your relationship, how 'pebbling' can benefit your relationship in a huge way, the six major warning signs you’re about to be ghosted, and - of course- the internet's obsession with 'rodent men' but the latest dating trend Gen Z are going mad for is all to do with 'beardfishing'.

Now, experts have chimed in on the trend, exposing the hairy truth for what it really is.

Are you being beardfished? (Studio4 / Getty Images)

What is beardfishing?

OK, so we've heard of catfishing (when someone creates a fake online identity to trick people into believing they are in a real virtual relationship) and dogfishing (using a dog in your online dating profile to attract a potential partner) but the latest 'fishing' threat centres all around facial hair.

According to Wilkinson Sword’s recent report which studied over 3,000 people, a staggering 47 percent of men admit their dating profile pictures don't reflect their current facial hair, paving a way for a whole new dating epidemic - 'Beardfishing'.

It's clear that your scruff really does matter as 27 percent of respondents rank it a key feature in male attractiveness, trailing only eye colour (38 percent) and hairstyle (37 percent).

It's clear facial hair really does matter when it comes to your dating profile. (Daniel Day / Getty Images)

There's also a key 'demand for transparency' as 36 percent of users want to see men with different facial hair styles across their dating profile, while 40 percent wish profiles showed men with and without facial hair for a clearer view.

It's clear that honesty really is the best policy then.

But, with that said, a pretty sizeable 36% percent of men still said they wouldn’t update their profile if they changed their facial hair with up to 43 percent of pictures used on their dating profile being over a year old.

A couple of singletons even shared their reactions after falling victims to the whole 'Beardfishing' phenonemon.

Rhiannon, 30, from London, shared: "One guy showed up with a moustache and another with a wild, long beard! It changed their whole face.

"I felt tricked, like I was catfished. This is not what I signed up for!"

Another unnamed dater, 23, who hails from Cardiff, added: "Seeing someone clean-shaven online and meeting them with an unkempt beard made me think they didn't care about their appearance."

They added: "It was a total turn-off."

Yikes.