Almost half of Brits admit that nobody knows the 'real' them.
Michael Jackson
A new study by discovery+ found that a vast amount of people put on a false persona in front of their friends, family and even their own partner.
The research, which marks the launch of the documentary 'Michael Jackson: A Faking It Special' discovered that a shocking 64 per cent even invent a metaphorical 'mask' by faking how they feel or act, so often that they can't tell who they really are. The average adult confessed to wearing a 'mask' four times a week.
Those polled are most likely to act 'fake' in front of strangers and work colleagues, but 34 per cent put on a persona in front of their friends.
Kerry Daynes, a consultant forensic psychologist who features on the programme, says: "Sharing thoughts and feelings can be difficult, and the growth of social media combined with the extended period of isolation we’ve found ourselves in has no doubt made it feel more necessary for people to hide their true self behind a protective persona."
'Michael Jackson: A Faking It Special' is available to stream now exclusively on discovery+.