Marketing Pilgrim’s Social Channel is proudly sponsored by Full Sail University, where you can earn your Masters of Science Degree in Internet Marketing in less than 2 years. Visit FullSail.edu for more information.

By on February 22, 2010

Research Suggests We Don’t Lie On Facebook Anymore

6



It appears as though the concept of being “radically transparent” is reaching the huddled masses on social networks.

Back in 2007, 31% of social network users admitted that they had falsified some of their profile details. Today, a new study suggests that we’re all actually quite honest about how we portray ourselves–at least, on Facebook.

Psychologists studied 236 US and German students and looked at how closely their real personalities matched up with their “idealized personalities”–who they’d like to be online. Apparently, the majority of the group didn’t play out their perfect persona, instead they were pretty transparent in who they were:

…there was no evidence of self-idealization, and ideal-self ratings did not predict observer impressions above and beyond actual personality

Usually at this point, I throw in a pretty chart that provides a nice visual of the results found by the study. Well, this time we’re dealing with raw data, and I honestly have no clue how to interpret this chart:

My psychology professor would be so ashamed of me right now. :-(

(via here & here)


Similar Stories in: Research, Social | Forward: Email This Post

Similar posts you may like...

6 comments on “Research Suggests We Don’t Lie On Facebook Anymore”

  1. Samit Malkani Says:

    February 22nd, 2010 at 9:06 am

    Hi Andy,

    This was a good post to read. I was pleasantly surprised to note that it agreed with a blog post I’d written some time back about how social media is keeping us more honest.

    I enjoy reading your blog, and look forward to more posts.

    Cheers,

    Samit
    .-= Samit Malkani´s last blog ..Ten Commandments For Digital Clients =-.

  2. Frank Reed Says:

    February 22nd, 2010 at 9:33 am

    Who needs to understand it? It’s research! Just believe it and it will be true (that along with 3 clicks of your heels as well while saying “There’s no place like research, there’s no place like research”).
    .-= Frank Reed´s last blog ..A Classic SMB Internet Marketing Story – Our Friends’ Closet =-.

    Andy Beal Reply:
    February 22nd, 2010 at 9:58 am

    LOL

  3. Mat Says:

    February 22nd, 2010 at 3:00 pm

    It may be true in some cases.. but you still see some whoppers being told on facebook :-D

  4. Su Facebook nessuno mente più | ciaoblog Says:

    February 24th, 2010 at 6:34 am

    [...] 2007 – come riportato da Marketing Pilgrim – una buona percentuale di utenti iscritti a Facebook – circa il 31% – ha [...]

  5. Josh G Says:

    March 10th, 2010 at 9:07 am

    Want to make your facebook profile have a color or an image background check out http://chameleontom.us, Cheers