Selfie vs. Self-Image The Consequences of Online Identities

Social Media has allowed us to share our lives with the world

Our Profiles have become our

Identity, representing all facets of our life

We now have the

Tools…

to Filter what we expose of ourselves

And in doing so…. We are EDITING our identity

“One of the differences between our self-image in real life and online is…

more ability to change our look, and also mask our identity"

 Chris'ne  Erickson,  The  Social  Psychology  of  a  Selfie  

"And one of the clearest themes is when people go on

Facebook they're often crafting a persona - they're portraying themselves at their happiest.  They're often choosing events that feel best to them and

they're leaving out other things” Andrea  Shea,  Facebook  Envy:    How  The  Social  Network  Affects  Our  Self-­‐Esteem  

"The  self,  is  to  some  extent,  a  story  we  tell.                    

When  people  are  choosing  to  leave  out  the  normal  chinks  in  human  armor,      the  normal  vulnerabili'es,  how  can  they  again  not  feel  

like  there's  something  wrong  with  that?"  Craig  Malkin,  Facebook  Envy:  How  The  Social  Network  Affects  Our  Self-­‐Esteem  

How do

P affect social media users?

icture  erfect  rofiles  

Social media identities are shaping

our perceptions

of each other

"We rely on other's perceptions, judgments, and appraisals to develop our social self"

Christine Erickson, The Social Psychology of a Selfie

We are comparing ourselves to perfected online identities

and developing our social selves using those comparisons

The  Looking  Glass  Self:          

"A  psychological  concept  that  suggests  we  develop  our  sense  of  self  based  on  the  percep.ons  of  those  we  interact  with”  

               Andrea  Letamendi,  The  Social  Psychology  of  a  Selfie  

"Now that we can interact with hundreds -  no thousands - of people simultaneously,

we've STRENGTHENED the impact that others have on our self-value”

Andrea Letamendi, The Social Psychology of a Selfie

"A UK study found that over 50% of social media users evaluated their

participation in social networking as having an overall negative effect on their lives.

Specifically, they singled out the blow to their self-esteem that comes from

comparing themselves to peers on Facebook and Twitter”

J.  Maureen  Henderson,  3  Reasons  Why  You  Should  Quit  Social  Media  in  2013

Comparing  likes  and  birthday  comments                    were  the  most  hurZul  culprits  

 Andrea  Shea,    Facebook  Envy:      How  The  Social  Network  Affects  Our  Self-­‐Esteem    

"Unprecedented  access  to  other  people's  photos  also  triggered    

 emo'onal  pain                            and  resentment”  

Andrea  Shea,  Facebook  Envy:    How  The  Social  Network  Affects  Our  Self-­‐Esteem

Access  to  perfected  online  iden''es  can  affect  the  way  we  

view  ourselves  

"Thinspiration consists

of photos, tips, and angst-

ridden quotes meant to provide visual inspiration and

motivation for those looking to whittle their bodies down to

tinier proportions" Megan  Gibson,  Thinterest?  When  Social  Networks  and  Body  Image  Collide  

"Self-portraits are practically the currency of the Internet, and Facebook and Instagram have also been

flagged for enabling unhealthy body images”

Megan  Gibson,  Thinterest?  When  Social  Networks  and  Body  Image  Collide

What  can  we  do  to  avoid                                

             these  nega0ve  aspects  of  social  media?  

"Finding ways to interrupt those thoughts can prevent them from

reinforcing a negative focus on the self

may be helpful in improving self-esteem and lifting mood"

Andrea  Letamendi,  The  Social  Psychology  of  a  Selfie  

"Our  thoughZulness,  our  inhibi'ons,  our  expressiveness,  our  crea'vity,  our  humor,  our  sadness,  our  aggression.  

Those  elements  of  our  personality  are  probably  going  to  shine  through”  Steven  Copper,    Facebook  Envy:    How  The  Social  Network  Affects  Our  Self-­‐Esteem  

Photo  Credits    Slide  1  –  Jurvetson,  Flickr  Slide  2  –  Grafixar,  Morguefile  Slide  3  –  thomasrdotorg,  Flickr  Slide  4  –  zzpza,  Flickr  Slide  5  –  Nic  McPhee,  Flickr  Slide  6  –    commons.wikimedia.org  via  Google  

   Advanced  Image  Search  Slide  7  –  commons.wikimedia.org  via  Google  

   Advanced  Image  Search  Slide  8  –  moonlessdepth.deviantart.com  via    

               Google  Advanced  Image  Search  Slide  9  –  GSCSNJ,  Flickr  Slide  10  –  AmulanPhotography,  Flickr  Slide  11  -­‐  commons.wikimedia.org  via  Google  

   Advanced  Image  Search    

Slide  12  –  rosipaw,  Flickr  Slide  13  –  commons.wikimedia.org  via    

   Google  Advanced  Image  Search  Slide  14  –  ervega,  Flickr  Slide  15  –  English106,  Flickr  Slide  16  –  Will  Clayton,  Flickr  Slide  17  –  klovesjphotography.deviantart.com    

   via  Google  Advanced  Image  Search  Slide  18  –  Bangfrog,  Flickr  Slide  19  –  darkmager,  Flickr  Slide  20  –  bradipo,  Flickr  Slide  21  –  commons.wikimedia.org  via    

   Google  Advanced  Image  Search  Slide  22  –  Simon  Cocks,  Flickr  Slide  23  –  commons.wikimedia.org  via    

   Google  Advanced  Image  Search      

Research:    •  hgp://www.wbur.org/2013/02/20/facebook-­‐perfec'on  •  hgp://www.forbes.com/sites/jmaureenhenderson/2012/07/11/is-­‐social-­‐media-­‐

destroying-­‐your-­‐self-­‐esteem/  •  hgp://www.forbes.com/sites/jmaureenhenderson/2012/12/29/3-­‐reasons-­‐you-­‐

should-­‐quit-­‐social-­‐media-­‐in-­‐2013/  •  hgp://newsfeed.'me.com/2012/03/29/thinterest-­‐when-­‐social-­‐networks-­‐and-­‐

body-­‐image-­‐collide/  •  hgp://mashable.com/2013/02/15/social-­‐media-­‐and-­‐the-­‐selfie/