Judging from this list, it would seem that people go a bit overboard when it comes to "pics or it never happened." Some do it for sh*ts and giggles, some for clout, and others because they maybe (truly) believe their own made-up stories. While a funny fib can win you some likes, there are those that can backfire quite spectacularly.
Take a bakery owner called Kylie Allen, for example. She went viral in 2023, and not in the way she wanted. In April, Allen took to TikTok outing a rude customer who had complained about her sprinkle-covered rainbow cake. The customer fired back, insulting the "overpriced" and "ugly" rainbow cake. Instead of taking the baker's side, internet sleuths did a deep dive into her past posts.
In what's since become known as the CakeGate drama, Allen ended up taking the heat in her proverbial kitchen of fibs.
It soon emerged that the feud between the baker and the customer had begun because of misleading photos on Allen’s website...
Before another cake had time to rise, netizens were mocking Allen's creations in a series of videos that went viral on TikTok. But it didn't stop there... Many people followed up by giving the bakery negative reviews on Yelp. If you're unfamiliar with it, it's an online business review platform.
Allen cried foul and said the public's response went overboard. She claimed there was more to the story than meets the eye. But it was too late. Her reputation and bakery suffered. A few months later, she closed Kylie's Kakes down. And 'til now, she still gets taunted with the occasional “Got sprinkles?” comment.
There's a whole science behind why people lie. And a guy called Dr. Paul Ekman has dedicated a fair amount of time delving into it. The influential psychologist is known as one of the world's best deception detection experts. And if the series Lie To Me comes to mind, yes, he apparently inspired it.
After interviewing dozens of children and adults, Ekman came up with nine main reasons why people decide to lie. The most frequent one, he says, is to avoid being punished, whether for a purposeful misdeeds or honest mistakes.
The second reason is to obtain a reward that is not otherwise readily obtainable. An example of this is falsely claiming work experience during a job interview to increase chances of hire, explained Ekman on his website.
Then there are those who lie to to protect another person from being punished. Whether it's a coworker, a friend, family, or even a stranger. Number 4 on Ekman's list is lying to protect oneself from the threat of physical harm.
"This is different from being punished, for the threat of harm is not for a misdeed," he explains. "An example would be a child who is home alone telling a stranger at the door that his father is asleep now and to come back later."
Many online liars and influencers could fall into category 5. Those who tell tall tales to win the admiration of others. "Telling lies to increase your popularity can range from 'little white lies' to enhance a story being told to creating an entirely new (fabricated) persona," says the expert.
Ever told someone you already have plans, so that you can decline the invite to that get-together you're not in the mood for? You're not alone. This falls into number 6 on Ekman's list of reasons for lying. He says often, people make up stories to get out of an awkward social situation.
"Examples of how telling lies can look when motivated by this are claiming to have a babysitter problem to get out of a dull party, or ending a telephone conversation by saying there is someone at the door," Ekman writes. But why did he have to out us like that?
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Sometimes people lie purely to avoid embarrassment. "The child who claims the wet seat resulted from water spilling, not from wetting her pants, is an example if the child did not fear punishment, only embarrassment," says Ekman.
And number 8 on the list is the lies that help us keep a low profile, or maintain privacy. "For example, the couple who claims to have eloped because the cost of a wedding was beyond their means when, in reality, they were avoiding the obligation to invite their families," the expert writes.
Lastly, you get liars who might be the worst of all, says Ekman. These people use deceit to exercise power over others. They control the information the target has. Much like a narcissist. "Famously embodied by Hitler, this is arguably the most dangerous motive for telling lies," reveals Ekman.
Fortunately, the expert has also outlined ways to spot a liar. Just like lead character Dr. Cal Lightman does, in the series Lie To Me. And if you want a crash course, and a few tips and tricks, keep scrolling...
