There’s nothing like a slight exaggeration when you’re telling a story, but creating a profile that’s ‘fake’ isn’t right is it?
New research has indicated that eight out of ten Brits have admitted that their social networking profiles are ‘fake’.
A study of 2,000 people found the average Facebook user carefully composes their profile – falsely painting a picture of an exciting social life, sophisticated tastes and glamorous photos. But 80 per cent confessed they have doctored photographs, linked to articles to appear intelligent, or tagged themselves at locations they’ve never visited.
Fake relationship statuses, misleading profile pictures and fabricated status updates were other common cheats in the list of lies lurking behind the average online profile. The research, which was commissioned by domain specialists Siteopia.com, found a large percentage feel ‘relentless pressure’ to give off the impression they lead more exciting lives than the reality.
Yesterday Siteopia.com spokesman John Bartholomew said: “Social media has become integral to the way we view and define ourselves, but the results show people are happy to fabricate their profiles to create an image that isn’t real.
“That’s leading to a culture of unnecessary boasting and a misguided sense of self-importance which in turn pressures others into feeling inadequate.
“A person’s social media profile is an ideal version of themselves that has been deliberately constructed. But it’s important our need to be held in high regard doesn’t come through blatant lies.”
Have you ever done any of this? If you can’t be real with your friends though, who can you be real with?
TOP ‘FAKEBOOK’ LIES
1. Use an old photo as a profile picture to look more attractive
2. Remove ‘ugly’ photos
3. Read articles on newspaper app to appear clever
4. ‘Like’ something to appear intellectual
5. Edit a picture to make yourself look more attractive
6. Message someone on Facebook you’ve never met
7. Write a status or tweet which is a lie
8. Use a profile picture of someone that wasn’t me
9. Write a status exaggerating how ‘fun’ a party or social event was
10. Had a relationship status that’s wrong i.e. in a relationship when actually single
11. Sent a friend request to someone just because they were attractive
12. Make up a status or tweet because you want attention
13. Dress up/ exaggerated job role
14. Exaggerate qualifications
15. Tag yourself or check in to a location you weren’t at
16. Made your education look better than it is
17. Edit books/movies/music to look a bit cooler
18. Edit things you like to have more in common with someone you like
19. Pose for a photo next to a car/house/motorbike that wasn’t yours
20. Create a fake photo album
