The Myth of the 28% Tech Support Statistic

You've probably seen it shared on social media or tech forums: "28% of IT professionals hide their career from family or friends to avoid being asked to provide free tech support." It's a relatable claim that resonates with anyone who's ever worked in technology. There's just one problem: the statistic appears to be completely unverifiable.

Despite appearing in countless blogs, memes, and discussion threads since at least 2014, this 28% figure has no traceable source. No survey organization, no methodology, no sample size, no publication date. It's a number floating in the digital ether, repeated so often that it feels true.

Where Did This Come From?

The earliest references to this statistic show up around 2014 in fact compilation blogs and social media posts. None of them cite an original source. Major IT workforce research organizations like CompTIA, Gartner, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics have never published this finding in any of their extensive industry reports.

This is a textbook example of how unsourced statistics spread online. Someone likely made an informal observation or conducted an unscientific poll, it got shared without context, and eventually became accepted as fact through sheer repetition.

But Is the Phenomenon Real?

Here's the thing: while the 28% number is bogus, the experience is absolutely real. Anyone who works in IT can tell you about being cornered at family gatherings to fix a relative's printer, diagnose a "slow" computer, or explain why their phone won't connect to Wi-Fi.

Online forums are filled with IT professionals sharing strategies for deflecting these requests:

• Being deliberately vague about their job ("I work with computers")
• Pretending to know nothing about consumer tech ("I only work with servers")
• Setting strict boundaries about free work
• Recommending paid services instead

The phenomenon is so widespread that it's become a running joke in tech communities. Reddit threads, programming forums, and IT subreddits regularly feature discussions about the "family tech support" burden. Some professionals even report it as a genuine source of stress in their personal relationships.

Why Do People Believe It?

The 28% statistic persists because it confirms what many people already know from experience. It's specific enough to sound scientific (not 25% or 30%, but exactly 28%), yet vague enough to avoid scrutiny (Who conducted the survey? When? How many people?).

This is a common pattern with viral statistics. If a number supports something people already believe, they're less likely to question its origin. The fact that IT professionals do face constant requests for free tech support makes the statistic feel plausible, even without evidence.

The Lesson Here

Next time you see a compelling statistic shared online, ask yourself: Where did this number come from? Who collected the data? How was it gathered? Is there a link to the original research?

In an age of information overload, healthy skepticism is your best defense against misinformation. Even when something feels true, or aligns with your experience, it's worth verifying before accepting it as fact.

As for IT professionals and their family tech support woes? That's very real, even if we can't put an exact percentage on it. If you work in tech, you already know the truth: your expertise is valuable, and it's perfectly reasonable to set boundaries around unpaid work—whether 28% of your colleagues do it or not.