2017-02-20 selfie-absorbed: body image, narcissism, and empathy in the smartphone era
TRANSCRIPT
Selfie-Absorbed
Frederick S. LaneAlaska Society for Technology in
EducationAnchorage, AK
20 February 2017
Body Image, Narcissism, and Empathy in the Smartphone Era
The Four Millennials
Burlington School Bd.
8 Books
Educational Consulting• Lectures and Presentations• Professional Development• Consulting on Policies and
Procedures• Information Sessions for Parents and
Students• “The Cybertraps Blog”• Slideshare.net/FSL3 (87 lectures)
Lecture Overview• Children and Technology• The Rise of the Selfie• Definitions• Physical & Psychological
Trends• Should We Ban Phones (or
Mirrors)?
Children and Technology
• Hardware• Apps and Software• Behaviors and Boundaries• Social Media• Younger and Younger• Digital Citizenship
All About Communication
Actual Child Screen Time• 1995: Children 5-16 spent appx. 3
hours per day using a screen• 2015: More than doubled, to 6.5
hours – some studies estimate 9 hours
• Teenaged boys: 8+ hours• 8-year-old girls: just 3.5 hours• Multi-screening increasingly common• 50% watch videos or use social
media while doing homework
A Timeline of Mobile Use
The Rise of the Selfie• Term created by Australian in 2002• Concept entered mainstream following
introduction of smartphone in 2007• As of December 2015:• 93 million selfies taken daily• Among 18-24 yos, 30% of photos are selfies• 95% of teens have taken a selfie
• High Risk and Wildly Inappropriate Selfies• Worst Homework Assignment Ever?
The Dilemma of Nude Selfies
• Technology & Nudity: An Old Story
• Reversal of Law Enforcement Gains• Possible Connection to
Psychological Harm and Abuse• Risk of Electronic Sexual Assault or
Sextortion• Younger and Younger
Defining “Body Image”• A person’s mental image of his
or her body, or the perception of his or her body in a mirror or other image
• Affected by numerous factors: family, friends, media, gender, weight, height, etc.
• Can lead to Body Dysmorphic Disorder, anorexia, bulimia, etc.
The Legend of Narcissus
Defining Narcissism• “Excessive or erotic interest
in oneself and one's physical appearance”
• “Inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity”
• Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Defining Empathy• “The ability to understand and
share the feelings of another”• A particularly complex
psychological state• The capacity for empathy is
innate but must be developed• Deficit of empathy can be
characterized as psychopathy
Psychological Trends• Empathy is steadily declining
among college students, while narcissism is steadily rising
• Possible factors:• Technology and screen time• Distracted parents• Decline in reading
• Consequences for Society??
The Curated Life• Teens surprisingly savvy about social
media in general and profiles in particular
• Photos deleted if they do not generate enough likes
• More than a third of selfies “enhanced” before posting
• Numerous apps to automate process:• Airbrush, RetouchMe, FaceTune, YouCam
Perfect, Perfect365
Unhealthy Obsession• Insecurity / Lack of Confidence• Self-Objectification / Obsession• Addiction• Damaged Friendships• Body dysmorphic disorder• Depression• Suicidal ideation / Attempted
suicide
Pursuit of Perfection• The pursuit of “natural filters” – disturbing
rise in body modification• 2017 Survey of American Academy of
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—• 99% of doctors agreed that celebrities and
social media are driving surgery requests• Patients are getting steadily younger• More men are seeking procedures
• DIY Modification: Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge
Reducing Narcissism• Set Boundaries• Encourage Good Manners• Encourage Boredom• Model Non-Narcissistic
Behaviors• Reduce Screen Time• Self-Esteem, Not Narcissism
Increasing Empathy• Parental Interaction• Reduced Screen Time for
Everyone• Reading, Reading, Reading• Model Empathic Behavior• Talk about the Feelings of Others• Volunteer Opportunities, Pets,
Plants
Selfie-Absorbed
Frederick S. LaneAlaska Society for Technology in
EducationAnchorage, AK
20 February 2017
Body Image, Narcissism, and Empathy in the Smartphone Era