Fake girlfriend: I paid for make-believe love on Facebook

[Jazzy]

Twenty-four-year-old Sophia is smart, pretty and has hopes and dreams of getting to grad school.



And for $5 she will be your girlfriend.



It's not a big deal really, she says, at the end of what has been an altogether very peculiar week.



It's just easy to do... I just tick 'in a relationship'.



Sophia is one of many women - and a few men - who have essentially brought the age-old industry of escorting to the world of social networking.



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Sophia?!? GIRLFRIEND?!”



Now, instead of hiring someone to grasp your arm and go out to a party or dinner - it's all about looking good online.



It's mostly guys trying to make someone else jealous, Sophia explains. Or to make their profile look like they've got girls all over them.



For the money, you get a week's worth of having in a relationship with Sophia on your profile, as well as a few status comments and likes.



But is it really fooling anyone? Surely friends and family are able to see through such a falsely constructed ruse?



I decided to try to find out. For one entire week, ending today, I have been living something of a lie - confusing friends, family and colleagues as I go.



I hired Sophia to be my fake Facebook girlfriend.

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Your thoughts?

 

[Geoffrey]

That's messed up. I blame Te'o.

 

[Jazzy]

Pretty pathetic if you ask me. Lying to your friends and family just doesn't sit right with me. What happens after a week? You look like the loser you were to even get involved in this pathetic scheme.

 

[Geoffrey]

Pretty pathetic if you ask me. Lying to your friends and family just doesn't sit right with me. What happens after a week? You look like the loser you were to even get involved in this pathetic scheme.

Even if they don't find out the lie at the end of the week, you still look bad because you only were with her for a week. lol.

 

[DrLeftover]

 

[Evil Eye]

Seems like a waste of money, but ok...

Even if they don't find out the lie at the end of the week, you still look bad because you only were with her for a week. lol.

Just give her another $5

 

[Geoffrey]

Seems like a waste of money, but ok...

Just give her another $5

And do that forever? I'd rather be #singleforlife.

 

[Evil Eye]

And do that forever? I'd rather be #singleforlife.

Not forever, just long enough to not make it look absolutely pathetic.

 

[Geoffrey]

Not forever, just long enough to not make it look absolutely pathetic.

I hate to tell ya, but it's pathetic no matter how long you make it last.

 

[Evil Eye]

I hate to tell ya, but it's pathetic no matter how long you make it last.

Yes. Of course.

But it's all about appearance, isn't it?