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 gender
Characteristic
Male
Female
It is legal
19%
12%
It is illegal
45%
51%
Don't know
35%
36%
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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.
Citation formats
U.S. adults on the legality of creating fake online personas 2022, by gender
A survey conducted in January 2022, found that 51 percent of female U.S. internet users thought it was illegal to impersonate another person on social media whilst 45 percent of male respondents thought the same. Overall, 12 percent of women and 19 percent of men thought it was legal to create a fake persona on social media.
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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 gender [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved August 05, 2026, from /statistics/1294963/us-adults-on-legality-of-fake-online-persona-gender/
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 gender." Chart. January 27, 2022. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed August 05, 2026. /statistics/1294963/us-adults-on-legality-of-fake-online-persona-gender/
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 gender. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 05, 2026. /statistics/1294963/us-adults-on-legality-of-fake-online-persona-gender/
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 Gender." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 27 Jan 2022, /statistics/1294963/us-adults-on-legality-of-fake-online-persona-gender/
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 gender ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1294963/us-adults-on-legality-of-fake-online-persona-gender/ (last visited August 05, 2026)
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 gender [Graph], Morning Consult, January 27, 2022. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1294963/us-adults-on-legality-of-fake-online-persona-gender/
