A group of University of Lethbridge students recently performed a social experiment on their peers using Facebook. The students created a false profile - an imaginary attractive female, and then sent off friendship requests to their classmates.

Within two minutes, they had acceptances and within 24 hours, the imaginary student had 25 new friends, some of whom were asking her out on dates and revealing their inner thoughts in online chat sessions.

The account was deleted within two days, and the students presented their findings to their class, all students in their early 20s who were shocked at how easily they fell for the story and trusted their “new friend”.

Source: U of L Facebook prank a lesson in privacy, Calgary Herald, February 6, 2010

Tags: Canada, privacy, Facebook