In 2009, Bobby Jandu sent Kirat Assi a friend request on Facebook. Without realizing it, Kirat Assi began a ten-year journey of online deception. In Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare, she writes about being ensnared in a virtual relationship with a man who didn’t exist. This Netflix documentary, which is based on a podcast, presents her narrative in a chronological format, showing how she gradually fell into a relationship full of lies.

This documentary is important for more than just showing a personal tragedy; it’s about a bigger societal problem. Sweet Bobby emphasizes the flimsiness of trust in a digital age where connections frequently trump face-to-face action. Kirat’s story is a microcosm of how easily the alluring promise of connection can seduce a man.

This tale evokes past occurrences in which individuals were duped by charismatic leaders, such as cult leaders whose enticing appearances conceal evil intentions. In our quest for connection,...