According to a report by Boston-based research and advisory firm Celent, auto insurance providers will soon be using social media information their clients post online to help evaluate their risks.

Online Auto Insurance reports the researchers noted the spread of social media use among all age groups and the nature of information provided makes online resources useful. Some insurance professionals already use this information when investigating claims.

The news source reports researchers found photos and information on social media websites can be useful for disproving false claims, such as in the case of one man who claimed a back injury but a subsequent investigation located photos of the individual breakdancing.

"The rise of social networks has led to people collecting incriminating evidence about themselves and offering it to insurers," the report's authors wrote. They noted that individuals often make information about their interests, lifestyle, habits and preferences publicly available.

According to the report, potential legal and ethical issues are likely to slow the implementation of this practice, and a systematic approach will need to be developed to gather, analyze and use this information effectively.