Online Dating Advice: The 4 Things Online Daters Lie About MOST

A fascinating new report from online dating site OkCupid--dubbed the "Google of online dating"--examined data from 1.5 million users to determine what people lie about most when looking for love on the Internet.

Take a look at the four big lies men and women of all ages tell online, then check out these jaw-dropping online dating statistics and six surprising tips for taking better online dating profile pictures. Which lies surprised you most--and least? Tell us in the comments below. (via OkCupid's OkTrends blog)

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Their Height

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OKCupid's finding: "People are two inches shorter in real life." An infographic on online dating reveals a similar data point: height is one of the top three things American men lie about on online dating sites, while women are more likely to lie about their weight and build. Does it matter? It seems that, up to a point (around 5'10" for women and 6'6" for men), taller people have more sex partners. On the other hand, shorter women (up to 5'10") tend to get more unsolicited messages per week than their taller (i.e. 6') counterparts.

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OKCupid's finding: "People are two inches shorter in real life." An infographic on online dating reveals a similar data point: height is one of the top three things American men lie about on online dating sites, while women are more likely to lie about their weight and build.

Does it matter? It seems that, up to a point (around 5'10" for women and 6'6" for men), taller people have more sex partners. On the other hand, shorter women (up to 5'10") tend to get more unsolicited messages per week than their taller (i.e. 6') counterparts.

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Comments

[KickstandCat]

11:43 AM on 08/03/2010

Tried it once. Told the truth in my profile. They didn't like it when they found out I actually did not lie, or they assumed that I would somehow change these things. Rather horrifying.

[mudshark12]

12:25 PM on 08/01/2010

I've given up on online dating. I wrote in my profile that I would respond only to women who lived within approximately 50 miles so we could actually meet and go out on a date. I supplied a recent picture and was truthful in the rest of my profile details like height, weight & etc.

What I got was endless flirts from women all over the planet. The majority of these women would then lie about almost everything.

[Prousa]

04:24 PM on 07/29/2010

Uh oh...you mean your avatar should not be your real self?

[Leto II]

01:30 PM on 07/29/2010

I can't beleive that girls didn't beleive my profile when I described myself as a young Brad Pitt. Seriously, I really look like him!

[sassafra]

11:28 AM on 07/29/2010

#1 "i'm a carbon-based life form."

[captainindustry]

09:57 AM on 07/29/2010

I'm thinking about doing some online dating. I'm looking for a model-thin, beautiful thirty. something with her own company who wants to dedicate herself to my every want and need.

any suggestions as to where i should start?

[KickstandCat]

11:45 AM on 08/03/2010

Auto Trader. ;)

[TedEjr]

08:59 PM on 07/28/2010

Lie about pictures? Say it ain't so. LMAO.

Being in the meat market, and belonging to a few dating sites, I have asked people before that first encounter if the photo is recent. Almost universally, they say yes. In real life, it was recent when the took it. Seven years ago.

That is why I date my photos that I post. Is that why I have so few dates?

LMAO.

[plegal06]

01:42 PM on 07/28/2010

Those are the things they lie about anyway.

[Meander]

01:26 PM on 07/28/2010

Of course. No money, no honey.

[wilray]

01:00 PM on 07/28/2010

I've started watching the television show "Lie to Me" starring Tim Roth. I am almost through the first season. One thing you get from the show is just how much people lie. Basically, we all lie, and we all lie a lot. When we're not lying to other people; we are just as capable at lying to ourselves. Although, probably most of the lies we tell are of the more innocent "white lie" type. Someone who is always speaking the truth is probably not someone you'd want around.

This show deals with the science of micro-expressions. I learned that it is an actual science. When you lie your face tends to give you away. The facial gestures are so small and so quick that most people will not detect them. However, some rare few people are able to easily detect them. Getting away with a lie on these people is practically impossible. Over time most of us realize that Susan Smith was lying about what happened with her kids. However, persons who detect micro-expressions probably realized the first time the lie escaped from her lips. I'm not certain how trainable this talent is, but if you could learn it, no one could just lie to you face anymore - not the car salesman, not your kids, and not a romantic interest.

[Ajita]

06:18 PM on 07/28/2010

Thank you, wilray. You've convinced me to check out 'Lie to Me'!

[wilray]

06:41 PM on 07/28/2010

You're welcome. I think you may find this link about micro-expressions helpful.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5311172_detect-micro-expressions.html

Regarding micro-expressions, two things stand out. 1) They are practically impossible to fake and impossible to control Someone may fake a smile but the micro-expressions show that it's fake; they can't fake a genuine smile. 2) Unlike broader gestures, micro-expressions are not dependent on culture. In that sense, it is a universal language. When your learn to detect micro-expressions, you can use that ability within any culture; the micro-expressions are the same.

[wilray]

12:38 PM on 07/28/2010

My list of the 4 things that online daters lie about most.

1. Their looks
2. Their age
3. Their income
4. Everything else

[KarateKid]

01:37 PM on 07/28/2010

LMAO !! That about covers it all.

[hypnotoad72]

12:33 PM on 07/28/2010

I'm honest in my profile as well.

Maybe if I lied, more people would respond.

Is that how online dating works?

[Amadahy]

05:40 PM on 07/28/2010

Same here. Online dating hasn't been successful for me. Maybe I should learn how to lie.

[TedEjr]

09:03 PM on 07/28/2010

Damn. And here I thought that I was special in that category. The not lying. AND not getting the dates.

Maybe we can start a support group. And call it, Honest, can't get a bite to my profile, bored guys.

LOL.

[knewguy88]

06:18 PM on 07/29/2010

Would be a great marketing campaign for a dating site.

Honest dating where you can be yourself. ;-)

[kmac23va]

11:52 AM on 07/28/2010

I'm perfectly honest in my profile. That's probably why I rarely get hits. Yes, I'm overweight, but I'm willing to say that rather than just "a few extra pounds" and fudge it. Now when I look at a woman's profile, I look at the face, then I look at the body type she's looking for. If she doesn't leave it blank or specify my body type, I don't even bother. What's stupid, of course, is no one considers other factors and that gee, maybe this person is working to lose the weight, and maybe if I'm encouraging we both get something out of it. But then I'm probably being idealistic.

[xyz321]

01:35 PM on 07/28/2010

Or that perhaps being intelligent, funny, independent, not living in your mom's basement or rely on buy 1 get 1 free coupons to go on dates, opening the door for a woman or someone with their hands full, saying 'thank you' and 'please' and managing to read whole books without pictures are qualities far more important to some than the size of their waistband?

~has a single friend who fills me in on the online dating disasters~ :)

[iwannafly]

11:09 AM on 07/28/2010

they missed the biggest one
these arent dating services
they are id say 75 percent 4 sex

[acura234]

02:04 PM on 09/03/2010

I've heard & read repeatedly that POF is the site to be on for casual sex. I know it's no good for
finding a partner.lol!! Actually a study should be done to find out if woman's attitudes differ
depending on their location. For instance, more or less picky, inclined to answer a polite message,I know from experience the women in my area love to make use of the Read or Unread/Delete option.
Any comments

[kentfx]

10:54 AM on 07/28/2010

HuffPost didn't used to have trashy stuff like this. It was a dependable source for discussions on topics that really meant something -- often unexpected, but not "online dating" for god's sakes. What's happened? It's got to be your advertisers...

Damn shame.