Eight out of ten Brits admit their social networking profiles are 'fake', it emerged yesterday.
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.
Over half of those polled said they remove anything on their page that looks boring, while two thirds have written a status or tweet purely as a call for attention from others. More than one tenth check in to places just to show off and make friends jealous and a quarter will only reference it if it's somewhere that looks cultured or interesting.
One in four has linked to an article purely because they thought it made them look intellectual, or read a story on a newspaper app because they knew it would show up on their Facebook wall. Six in ten post pictures or videos they're proud of in hopes of a flurry of likes, shares and online adulation.
More than a tenth of people said Facebook was important in letting people know just how much they've achieved, while a quarter insisted it's their way of voicing their opinions. One in four said their profile page was the place for them to show off everything that's good about them. And we're a nation of budding photographers - 42 per cent of Brits post pictures online in the hope they will seem arty and show they have a good eye for a picture.
A quarter admit they've edited a photo of themselves to look better by changing their skin tone, removing a spot or blemish or giving themselves that star quality with added effects. Our Facebook presence is never far from our thoughts - a third of people say they deliberately set out to take eye-catching new profile pictures. In fact, while half the study admits they have many more social media friends than in real life, a quarter feel a sense of pride at the number of friends and followers they've gained.
Indeed, one in four has added someone as a friend who they've only met once before, while a tenth has messaged someone on Facebook they've never met at all. Just one in five people said their Facebook profile is an accurate reflection of who they are, with many admitting it makes them look a lot more socially active than they really are.
More than a tenth referred to their profile as a shop window they deliberately dress up, emitting the boring bits of their life. And one in two Brits has blocked or hidden updates from friends because they were fake and too far removed from what they know that person is like in real life.
John Bartholomew added: ''More and more we see people making high profile errors through social media and it's worth remembering that even when intended only for friends and family, people are always judged and held accountable for what they post.
''There's an increasing need for people to seem artistic, funny or to use their profiles to showcase their talent, but often they risk alienating themselves if updating too regularly, boasting or can be deemed as insincere.
''People who genuinely want a platform to display their creative talents or skills gain more authority by linking to a personal website with content they've put effort into, rather than bombarding people's newsfeeds with calls for attention or attempts to seem cool.''
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
