Two in five people admit to creating their own 'fake news' online
- Two in five (42 per cent) people admit to stretching the truth when posting online
- Liars are telling two lies a week online as part of their ‘online brand’
- Facebook is the place people are most likely to lie online
A new study by Privilege Insurance, analysing online habits and social media use has revealed two fifths of people are guilty of creating their own ‘fake news’ online.
Those who admit to lying online tell an average of two lies per week, with men being revealed as the biggest ‘fake news felons’, fibbing three times more often than women per week (3.5 vs 1).
The study, which looked at how adults communicate across a number of online mediums, including social media channels, dating, job, and review sites, as well as online discussion forums, revealed that the average liar is telling up to two fibs a week, via their online persona.
A fifth (21 per cent) of all involved in the study say they’ve taken a photo and waited to post it until a day and time when they know it will get most likes or engagement.
Fake news felons are mostly found on Facebook (13 per cent), followed by Twitter (five per cent) and Instagram (four per cent).
One in six (16 per cent) of social media users have even set up a fake profile online and 11 per cent have used it to ‘troll’ or post negative comments.
Where people are most likely to lie online
Source: Privilege Insurance
Website |
% of women who lie |
% of men who lie |
Social media (Facebook) |
14% |
13% |
Social media (Twitter) |
3% |
8% |
Social media (Instagram) |
4% |
5% |
Online marketplace |
3% |
5% |
Employment focused social networks (e.g. LinkedIn) |
1% |
4% |
Dating sites |
1% |
5% |
Review sites (e.g. Trip Advisor, Google Reviews) |
2% |
5% |
Job search sites |
2% |
5% |
The biggest lies men tell online are about career progression (34 per cent), going to the gym (30 per cent) and relationships (27 per cent). The biggest lies women tell online are about their appearance (26 admit to over use of image filters), enjoyment of activities (21 per cent), their careers (16 per cent) and love life and relationships (15 per cent).
Indeed, one in every seven social media users (16 per cent) admits to embellishing their relationships with posts and pictures that don’t accurately reflect the state of it and almost a fifth (17 per cent) have used social media as platform on which to make an ex jealous.
A third of those (36 per cent) who use dating websites admit to lying before they’ve even started a relationship, via the sites and apps. The most common dating profile fibs people tell are about hobbies (48 per cent), their weight (44 per cent) and their height (41 per cent).
When eating out, a third of people (36 per cent) admit to snapping their meal before eating in a restaurant and one in seven (13 per cent) said they’ve planned a meal because of a social media post, one in five people (20 per cent) have plated a meal differently to allow for a more ‘social media ready’ snap and an eighth (12 per cent) have had a meal go cold or become less enjoyable, to ensure the perfect picture was captured.
Fabrications about education and career progression across online channels such as Facebook and LinkedIn have also been told by 12 per cent of people and a fifth (19 per cent) have filtered photos more than once or edited them (using image corrector apps), before posting.
Other popular social media myths include people posting gym photos when they’re not actually in the gym (13 per cent) and the posting of an old holiday picture without specifying when it was taken, with the hope that friends and followers will presume that they’re travelling (13 per cent).
Top 10 things are most likely to lie about on social media
Source: Privilege Insurance
Things people are most likely to lie about |
% of women liars who lie |
% of men liars who lie |
Job / career progression |
16% |
34% |
Their appearance (filtered pictures) |
26% |
22% |
Love life / relationships |
15% |
27% |
Food |
8% |
15% |
Exercise |
4% |
30% |
Holidays |
6% |
23% |
Hobbies - TV shows / books |
13% |
11% |
Education |
6% |
9% |
Where they are – checking into places |
6% |
4% |
Items (of value that they own) – homes, cars, bags, shoes, clothes |
7% |
4% |
Dan Simson, head of Privilege home insurance, said:
“At a time when the world’s media is looking to combat the impact and prevalence of ‘fake news’ it’s important to think about the way in which we present ourselves online, and consider the reality of our own brands of ‘fake news’.
“Our study has revealed a real move towards people’s online persona dominating their real-life behaviour, a trend that calls for us all to review how we’re conducting ourselves, as well as the messages we’re conveying, online.
“Privilege is all about straight talking and we believe brands have a responsibility to promote responsible posting. People should remember that everything they post is accessible via Google, so we’d encourage them to be cautious about what they’re placing online.”
ENDS
For more information, please contact: Fran Langdon or Laura Nugent at Van Communications:
[email protected] / [email protected] / 020 3179 0720
Notes to editors:
Privilege
Privilege Insurance specialises in car insurance for safe drivers. It also offers home insurance and breakdown cover by phone or on-line.
Privilege general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Privilege and UK Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.
Customers can find out more about Privilege’s products or get a quote by calling 0345 246 0515 or visiting www.privilege.co.uk