Would you take pictures inside someone else’s home then put the pictures on Instagram and claim it’s your house?

A recent survey showed that one in six of us have done just that – posted pictures of other people’s better homes and pretended it’s theirs.

More than a quarter of the 2,000 people polled at the Ideal Home Show admitted to being so envious of images of friends’ properties on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, that it made them miserable.

It is sad that so many people are affected in this way, especially as much of what you see on social media is faked.

Nearly half of 25- to 35-year-olds confessed they would buy an item purely on the basis of how it would improve their home’s appearance on social media. Some even admit to buying desirable objects including furniture for their home, taking pictures for Instagram then returning the items.

17 per cent said they would pay more for a home they thought would impress their friends.

It’s clear that social media is making people feel the need to not just keep up with their friends but to keep up with people they don’t even know across the world.’

The vast majority of the photos on Instagram are genuine in that there is a real object being photographed but a significant minority are created by Photoshop type techniques or are amended so much so as to provide an unrealistic image.

The things you covet on Instagram may well be fake.

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