People ‘more likely to lie online than in person’

Single soldiers looking for love online might be wise to take information from potential partners with a pinch of salt.

Jeff Hancock, associate professor of communications at Cornell University, told ABC News people may tell a fib or two when interacting via the web.

"Most people believe that given the opportunity, everything else equal, people will lie more online than they would face-to-face," he said.

Catalina Toma, assistant professor of communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison explains the same human needs act as motivations to lie, whether this is on the internet or in person, but technology just makes it easier to do so via the web.

But both experts believe it is natural for people to expect others are not telling the whole truth, so it may be wise to bear this in mind when viewing a person's profile.

Army penpals who meet people for a date in person should, however, be open and honest, the Independent recently suggested.

Posted by Simon Williams