How Social Media has Changed Self Image
Photo Credit: Stuart Black (Flickr)
By Lindley Kenny
The ‘selfie’
Source: Christine Erickson, The Social Psychology of the Selfie
Photo credit: davitydave (Flickr)
“I hear that word imagining Myspace-style angles, duck faces, peace signs and dirty mirrors”- Christine Erickson
“Selfie-taking a photo of oneself, usually
with the intention to post on social media” -Jillian McHugh
Source: Jillian McHugh, ‘Selfies' just as much for the insecure as show-offs Photo Credit: so_jerzz (Flickr)
Photo sharing sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr
are filled with ‘selfies’
Source: Christine Erikson, The Social Psychology of the Selfie
Photo credit: James Cheuck (Flickr)
“Some upload entire albums to
Facebook of their
Macbook photo sessions.
Others take
filtered pictures of
what they wore that day,
or caption a close-up
with mild to severe
self-depreciation”
-Christine Erickson
Source: Christine Erickson, The social Psychology of the Selfie
Photo Credit: Trenton Hart (Flickr)
“How many photos have you taken of yourself with your phone or webcam, and how many of these
would you actually post online?” -Christine ERickson
Source: Christine Erickson, The social Psychology of the Selfie
Photo Credit: Kate Fisher (Flickr)
‘ “How we see ourselves in the mirror versus a regular photo is different. The mirror shows a reverse view,
but also shows you alive and with movement.” -Christine Erikson
Source: Christine Erickson,
The social Psychology of the Selfie
Photo Credit: Mads Boedker (Flickr)
The mirror presents a more attractive view of ones self image in comparison to a photo due to movement and life, which overcomes flaws, but yet why do individuals still
feel the need to post selfies?
Photo Credit: angrylambie1 (Flickr)
Source: Christine Erickson, The social Psychology of the Selfie
The main reason for an individual to post a self-image on social media is due to:
loneliness and desperation for attention.
Photo Credit: Tanya Little (Flickr)
Source: Carys Mills, ‘Facebook fatigue’ and the aging social network
‘we rely on others perceptions, judgements, and
appraisals to develop our social self’ -Christine Erickson
Source: Christine Erickson,
The social Psychology of the Selfie
Photo Credit: Jon Smith (Flickr)
The profile picture itself puts the individual in control of their own self image
Photo Credit:
Michael Brashier (Flickr)
The individual is able to choose which way they want people to perceive them.
Photo Credit: Jlhopgood (Flickr)
Technology has allowed us to
manipulate photos to create a more ‘likeable’ self image
Source: Christine Erickson,
The social Psychology of the Selfie
Photocredit: StevenErat (Flickr)
“Filters make any photo look more appealing
than what the image actually looks like, let alone what the naked eye would’ve seen”
-Christine Erickson
Source: Christine Erickson, The social Psychology of the Selfie Photo Credit: macbosse (Flickr)
Individuals are looking
towards social media sites
for instant gratification
Source: Carys Mills, ‘Facebook fatigue’ and the aging social network, Photo Credit: Master OSM 2011
“Studies have shown that the comments on your facebook profile pictures strongly affect
Photo Credit: Fadid Habib
your level of perceived physical, social and professional attractiveness”
-Christine Erickson
Source: Christine Erickson, The social Psychology of the Selfie
As humans we are constantly looking for reassurance and we want people to say positive things about us
Photo Credit: Rachel Carter (Flickr) Source: Carys Mills, ‘Facebook fatigue’ and the aging social network
“The selfie is
narcissitic but only in the sense its
showing something of
yourself” -Carys Mills
Source: Source: Carys Mills, ‘Facebook fatigue’ and the aging social network
Photo Credit: Wesley Fryer (Flickr)
“As our news feeds fill up with photos on
Facebook and Instagram it does normalize this idea of self-presentation”
-Dr. Leaver
Source: Carys Mills, ‘Facebook fatigue’ and the aging social network
Photo Credit: Mixy Lorenzo
By posting a selfie, the individual is
seeking attention and appraisal from peers, to feel as though they have a
‘likeable’ self image in order to achieve self worth
Photo Credit: Sean MacEntee (Flilckr)
But if our self image on social media is not an accurate representation
of who we are, we are thus
degrading our true sense of self.
Photo Credit: Boris Mann (Flickr)
Credits All images are licensed under the Creative Commons
Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0 Agreement and sourced by Flickr
Photo Credit: Nick Perla
Sources
• http://mashable.com/2013/02/15/social-media-and-the-selfie/ • http://www.policymic.com/articles/32141/in-defense-of-the-selfie • http://www.watoday.com.au/business/media-and-
marketing/selfies-just-as-much-for-the-insecure-as-showoffs-20130403-2h6ow.html
• http://www.thelifefiles.com/2013/04/05/here-is-the-psychology-behind-the-selfie/
• http://icybersafe.com/2013/04/14/mirror-mirror-on-the-wall-the-selfie-and-the-psychological-impact-on-our-teens/
• http://www.thestar.com/business/tech_news/2013/04/05/facebook_fatigue_and_the_aging_social_network.html
Photo Credit: ExpressionPostHummus