Lies on social networks

The lies on social networks, Just like in other areas of our lives, They constantly invade us. In fact, there are several branches of science that explain the effect of lies on everyday communication.

Sociologists, anthropologists, psychologists, physicists and mathematicians have analyzed, from their perspective, What is the function of lies in these media and how do they affect us? in addition to studying the parts of the brain that are involved in lying. Let’s dig deeper.

Mathematics and lies on social networks

A study directed by Rafael A. Barrio, from the INAM Physics Institute, revealed that lies on social networks occur regularlyas in any type of human communication.

This is an international investigationcarried out through the application of a dynamic opinion model of an extensive telephone network that covers the European Community, with the purpose of examining the role that lies play in social networks.

Lies on social networks are almost daily occurrences. The novelty is that through a mathematical model it is possible to determine why we lie.

The analysis of interactions in pairs was developed through the use of an organized system of calls to seven million telephones. Thus, as the authors indicate: “in this work, we focus on the impact that lying has on the coherence and structure of social networks.”

The study highlights that Lies are a substantial element to maintain the virtuality of relationships between people. “Although as children we are taught that breaking the truth is bad and we must act honestly, we learn to lie, sometimes in a sophisticated way, but we do not stop doing it in any type of human society and it is something that other primates also do. , like chimpanzees,” said Barrio.

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Types of lies that we commit on the networks

In your article Effects of Deception in Social Networks, The authors of this study inform us of the existence of two types of lies on social networks:

The white or prosocial lies.The black or antisocial lies.

Studies carried out in the United States reveal that in a half-hour conversation you can lie up to nine times.

As it is currently understood in society, white lies have a positive and innocent connotation, unlike the black liesunderstood as a resource with a harmful and offensive connotation. The former are usually issued for a good reason and do not adversely affect the individual, unlike the latter, which are produced with a perverse intention in order to benefit the sender and harm the receiver.

Among the conclusions, published in the magazine Proceedings of the Royal Society B., Scientists found that:

The lies on social media called white or prosocial -in which the benefit of not telling the truth is for the recipient- they balance, they unite societyoffer diversity of opinions to the virtual collective and help maintain broad social relationships. In contrast, black or antisocial lies -selfish and useful only for the one who issues it- fracture the ties, since foster mistrustare harmful since they disrupt the network by breaking the links as everyone feels deceived.

“A lie, no matter how much it is repeated, is still a lie.”

-Alfredo Vela-

What leads us to practice lying on social networks?

The great invention of primates is sociability and, along with it, deception. Our brain can handle more relationships between peers with lies. If one were honest all the time, one’s ties would be less. It is like a technique that we use to interact with more people at the same time.

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As time passes and the network conforms to its structure of communities in balance, people do not lie less, but more. While it is true, the number of antisocial lies is detrimental or tends to disappear, while prosocial lies increase in large quantities.

This effect agrees quantitatively with studies carried out in schools, where it is seen that As children grow older, they become more liars. In young children there are many antisocial lies that disappear as they grow, but on the other hand, prosocial lies increase.

“A bad lie is not bad when we defend a good truth with it.”

-Jacinto Benavente-

I lie then I don’t isolate myself

Totally honest people run the risk of becoming isolated, because whoever speaks the truth can hurt susceptibilities. These people are characterized by being withdrawn and not having many friends, since they usually say what they think without fear of what others believe about that comment, which is generally uncomfortable or inappropriate for many. Therefore, being honest is not always the best thing from a social point of view, however, honest people receive the respect and trust of others, which also makes it a virtue.

We cannot affirm that humans are liars, rather we use lies at some point and according to convenience. The reason we lie is because we are immersed in a societywith many groups of people with whom we constantly interact and from which we want to get the maximum possible advantage on a social and emotional level.

There are many good things behind this new human communication and there are others that are not so good. The worst thing about social networks may be that let’s disconnect so much from ourselves that in the end our story is told in false moments and not by true experiences, which are what give certain value to our memories.

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