Plenty of people lie through their teeth, but even more lie through their texts.
A new study from the University of British Columbia discovered that fibbers are far more comfortable hiding behind texts than lying in person or in video chat.
The study split 170 students into a stock market role play of brokers and buyers. Both were promised $50 for their participation, but that amount was also dependent on how their imaginary stock would perform.
Brokers were privy to insider information that the stock would lose half of its value. Buyers weren’t given that knowledge to start with.
Buyers who communicated with their broker via text message were 95% more likely to be lied to than via video chat. They were 31% more likely to be lied to than buyers who'd had face-to-face conversations. Video chat was deemed the most honest method because the brokers may have felt they were being recorded.
As for the dishonest texts, brokers -- like the rest of us -- felt more comfortable lying through SMS because there is less of a personal connection, which makes it easier to do.
Separately, the study showed that people are most angry when lied to through text compared to video or face-to-face communication.
