According to a 2022 survey conducted in the United States, 54 percent of respondents ages over 65 years thought that it was illegal to create a fake persona or impersonate another person on social media. Of respondents in the 18 to 34 year age category, 21 percent thought that this type of social media activity was legal and 45 percent thought that it was illegal. Overall, the belief that online impersonation was illegal grew steadily with age increase.
Share of adults in the United States who think it is illegal to create a fake persona or impersonate another person on social media as of January 2022, by age group
Original question: "To the best of your knowledge, is it legal or illegal to create a fake persona or impersonate another person on social media?" The source defines catfishing as a situation "where users are tricked by fake accounts into online relationships and sometimes scammed out of money". Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
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Morning Consult. (January 27, 2022). Share of adults in the United States who think it is illegal to create a fake persona or impersonate another person on social media as of January 2022, by age group [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 09, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1294967/us-adults-on-legality-of-fake-online-persona-age/
Morning Consult. "Share of adults in the United States who think it is illegal to create a fake persona or impersonate another person on social media as of January 2022, by age group." Chart. January 27, 2022. Statista. Accessed January 09, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1294967/us-adults-on-legality-of-fake-online-persona-age/
Morning Consult. (2022). Share of adults in the United States who think it is illegal to create a fake persona or impersonate another person on social media as of January 2022, by age group. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 09, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1294967/us-adults-on-legality-of-fake-online-persona-age/
Morning Consult. "Share of Adults in The United States Who Think It Is Illegal to Create a Fake Persona or Impersonate Another Person on Social Media as of January 2022, by Age Group." Statista, Statista Inc., 27 Jan 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1294967/us-adults-on-legality-of-fake-online-persona-age/
Morning Consult, Share of adults in the United States who think it is illegal to create a fake persona or impersonate another person on social media as of January 2022, by age group Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1294967/us-adults-on-legality-of-fake-online-persona-age/ (last visited January 09, 2025)
Share of adults in the United States who think it is illegal to create a fake persona or impersonate another person on social media as of January 2022, by age group [Graph], Morning Consult, January 27, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1294967/us-adults-on-legality-of-fake-online-persona-age/
