London - Modern men cannot keep a secret – and are now worse gossips than women, according to a recent survey.
Researchers found that, contrary to the assumption that women can’t wait to spill the beans, it is men who are first to pass on confidential information.
Thanks to social media, men no longer wait to see their friends for a drink, typically sharing a secret in less than three hours, the study found.
By comparison, women will keep it to themselves for at least three-and-a-half hours before passing it on.
The study of 2 000 in the UK found that the average man will keep a secret to themselves for around two hours and 47 minutes – almost 40 minutes less than women.
More than one in 10 guys even admitted to blabbing someone’s private secret within 10 minutes or less of finding out about it.
Despite this, 92 percent of men consider themselves to be good at keeping secrets.
The results showed that male friends are most likely to spill the beans after finding out a friend is having an affair; followed by discovering someone is lying – and that a work colleague having an office affair or romance.
Worryingly, one in 20 men admitted they would share a piece of gossip with at least five different people, including their partner, friends and work colleagues.
Unsurprisingly, the study also found that men are more likely to end up at loggerheads with their mates after sharing someone’s secrets.
Three in 10 guys have fallen out with someone after spreading gossip about them, with almost one in 10 saying they still aren’t talking because of it.
But just a quarter of women have the same problem.
A spokesman for the company that commissioned the survey said: “It’s fascinating to see that for years, women have been named the biggest gossips, and have the stereotype of being people who can’t wait to pass on a juicy secret as soon as they hear it. But it’s actually the modern man who is now giving them a run for their money.” – Daily Mail
TEN MEN’S SECRETS THAT WON’T BE SECRET FOR LONG
1. A friend is having an affair.
2. Someone was lying about something.
3. My boss/colleague is having an office romance.
4. Someone I know is pregnant.
5. Someone has been in trouble with the police.
6. Someone was lying about their job or salary.
7. I know someone who has had/is having plastic surgery.
8. A friend has had a windfall.
9. A friend/colleague is in financial trouble.
10. A friend/colleague is having trouble in the bedroom department