14 DAY TRIAL // The results from Retrevo's newest Gadgetology study are in, the consumer electronics shopping and review site has announced. The study, entitled "Social Media Remorse," offers an overview of the consequences of questionable online posting, and has a (small) focus on Apple’s smartphone.
Study highlights show that 59% of iPhone users have posted something online they regretted. 32% of all people surveyed say they've posted something online they regretted, Retrevo informs. Of these 32%, three percent say it actually ruined their marriage / relationship with someone, while 6% say it caused problems at work or home. Of the same 32%, some 13% were able to remove the offending post and go on with their lives. 54% of people under 25 years old have also posted something online they regretted, Retrevo’s findings say, while only 27% of people over the age of 25 have posted something online they regretted.
"We live in a digital age where everything is expected to be public and instant," Manish Rathi, Retrevo co-founder and vice president of marketing, says. "Whether it's pictures from your kid's birthday party, or your perspectives on political events, people are sharing their thoughts faster, and with a wider audience than ever before. Look at trending topics on social media sites like Twitter and you'll find people sharing their opinions on everything from the Gulf Cost oil spill to Justin Bieber. Given the urgency and frequency with which people are expected to share, it's no wonder some postings might later be regretted."
"Making technology mobile certainly creates more opportunity to post on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace," Retrevo states on its blog. "Interestingly enough, we found that over 1/3 of our respondents admit to using their iPhone or smartphone as a computer substitute," the report says (emphasis ours). "Maybe people wouldn't post as much if they only did it at home in front of a 'real' computer," Retrevo proposes. "It would be easy to lay the blame on the gadgets and skirt responsibility from the user, but as gadget enthusiasts, we're unlikely to do that. The reality is that when it comes to removing your shotgun post that will more than likely cause you major headaches, breakups, or even job loss, these same mobile devices and computers also let you remove your posts just as easily. Almost half of those who said 'yes' to regretting their posts said they were able to remove it, thus proving that technology can save more than your data," Retrevo concludes.