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