Your Facebook status reveals much more about you than you think

MELBOURNE: If you are among those who update their status message on social networking sites like Orkut, Facebook, regularly, then people can easily know what kind of a person are you, according to a new study.

The study has claimed that the short statement, which can be seen by hundreds of online friends, reveals much more about you than you think.

According to psychologist and author Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, people who use it to brag could be suffering from insecurity.

"You're sending a message out to everybody that rather than just quietly getting on with what you're doing you need external recognition," The Daily telegraph quoted him as saying.

Carr-Gregg claimed that people who post updates about feeling depressed were actually seeking attention, and he cautioned that such behaviour could ultimately prove to be dangerous.

"This is a digital SOS. They can be very, very upsetting when you send out something and you get absolutely nothing back. You could be forgiven for thinking no one cares, but not everybody is online or checking their phone all the time," he said.

Although rib-tickling status updates could get the thumbs up, but Carr-Gregg warned against offensive comments or sarcasm.

Also, he revealed that updates about children could turn out to be quite boring for others.

"Parental pride is understandable, we're allowed to be proud about our children's milestones but the tragedy is that nobody else gives a stuff," he said.

And he gave a big no-no for using status updates to announce things like relationship break-ups when you are still emotional.