Millions of Brits carefully edit their Facebook page to appear more high flying or intelligent than they actually are, it has been revealed. Researchers who carried out a detailed study found around one third of the content regularly posted by the average Brit is ‘spun’.
The results also show only one in four of us are always 100% honest in our status updates and posts.
Common tricks include ‘photoshopping’ pictures to make themselves look better, linking to impressive articles they haven’t read, and inviting anyone to be their friends to have more followers than anyone else.
Exaggerating career developments, boasting about an active social life and fabricating status updates about domesticity or parenting skills are also favorite scams.
Wayne Greensmith of Pukka Pies, which commissioned the study, said
”One of the main ways people communicate today is via social media.
”This means it is now easier than ever to embellish the truth, whereby honest, authentic content is becoming increasingly harder to find.
“When you meet someone in person there’s nothing to hide behind; no Photoshop, no delete button and no option to de-tag yourself, but online, there are endless ways of showing off to make yourself appear more exciting.
“As such, Brits are now thinking carefully before posting status updates to make sure they are happy with what they say.
”They are choosing only the best photographs and videos to make sure they are at their most attractive and they are selective about materials and online content they link to, so as to appear intelligent and knowledgeable.
“Facebook is now a platform for people to appear at their very best, even if in reality this is far from the truth.”
Other ways Brits commonly ‘improve’ their online profile include adding attractive friends, liking other people’s intelligent posts and using younger photographs as profile pictures.
The study also shows one third of people think carefully about when to ‘check-in’ to places, only tagging themselves to places which are either particularly interesting or a place which will make their friends jealous.
Seven in 10 people only post statuses and tweets which they feel will make others laugh, while 52% would remove anything from their Facebook or Twitter pages which seems too boring.
One in three think nothing of changing skin tone, removing spots and blemishes and adding effects on photographs before uploading.
More than half of those polled said Facebook is a great way to stay updated with their friends and means they don’t miss out on current activity.
But one third use the social networking websites as a way of displaying all the good things about themselves, and 15% use it to shout about all the things they are doing.
One in ten people admit to using the page to get a bit of attention when things aren’t necessarily happening in reality.
As a consequence, the average ‘Fakebook’ user may be misconstrued as being a total party animal and more exciting or more attractive than they are in the flesh.
Wayne Greensmith added:
“It’s hard to figure out on Facebook and Twitter what is honest content and what is an inflated claim.
”On a wider level, it is increasingly difficult to know who to trust and how to spot what is honest and authentic.
“Faced with an ever-growing amount of exaggeration and over-embellishment, we predict that Brits will soon return to realising that it’s the simple pleasures in life that matter the most.”
The Pukka Pies’ #FAKEORPUKKA social media campaign will give Facebook fans the facility to ‘name and shame’ friends who are faking it. Visit www.facebook.com/pukkapiespukkapies to find out more and to get involved.