1 year ago
in Technology
In a recent survey, just over a quarter of Irish people have admitted to frequently talking selfies. This is a surprisingly low number considering how the digital self-portrait has become a highly visible part of everyday life. Our research shows us that of the brave 26% of people that fessed-up to enjoying the odd selfie, females are the biggest users, with respondents in the 18-24 range the most prolific selfie takers.
We now know that it takes an average of 4 selfie attempts to get the perfect shot but why aren’t we satisfied with the picture we take on our first attempt?
Perhaps the best answer can be found in the research of University College London neuroscientist James Kilner. According to Kilner, in our lifetimes we become very familiar with recognising and interpreting the facial expressions of others. However we get to look at our own faces far less frequently and hence we have a much poorer understanding of what we actually look like. This may explain that initial unhappiness when seeing a first selfie attempt and the impulse to keep trying until we produce an image that comes closer to matching our perception of what we think we should look like.
Selfies are here to stay, but if we take a closer look at the science behind the selfie, will we find that our selfies are doing more harm or more good for the population? Let’s dig deeper.
Since their inception, selfies have always had a role in celebrity culture. Whether it’s the Pope, President Obama or a Kardashian, no member of the elite clique is untrained in the way of the selfie. Is it a coincidence that world leaders and industry icons are often caught in the selfie act, or is it as one US study suggests, that ladies who take selfies are thought to show leadership qualities? In a bizarre contrast, the study revealed that men who showed the same enthusiasm for taking selfies are regarded as being exploitative or entitled. So let’s focus on the positive here and celebrate the generations of female future leaders that will spawn from selfie culture.
Nobody likes to hear the word narcissism when it’s used to describe their personality, but it is a word that pops up again and again in selfie research. A 2015 study tested its participants for the following characteristics: narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism, also known as the ‘dark triad’. The study then analysed their selfie habits. The results showed that selfie posting was related to higher levels of narcissism and psychopathy.
So, it might be time to give up the duckface pose shot from a high angle for a while and hand over occasional photographer duties to a kind passer-by.
Selfies and social media use go hand in hand. Let’s face it, if someone’s taking a selfie it’s because they are trying to put their perceived best image across to someone else whether on a newsfeed or in an instant message.
But it’s not just the selfie takers that are finding themselves put under pressure from selfie culture, it’s also regular social media users and selfie spectators. Three US universities proved this when they surveyed more than 800 female college students in order to find a correlation between body image and being exposed to selfies.
One of the authors of the study explained that negative body comparison facilitated by viewing Facebook leads to a phenomenon known as “mass mediated objectification”. Furthermore, the link between postings on social media and negative body image was especially prevalent in participants who were trying to lose weight.
It might surprise some to know that the origins of the selfie reach back far beyond the Kardashians and the 21st century. In fact, some credit the first photographed self-portrait to Robert Cornelius in 1839. The photo in question was done on a daguerreotype, one of the earliest types of photographic presses. However, in the famous photo one can make out Cornelius crossing his arms, meaning he couldn’t have taken the type of photo we enjoy today.
It’s fair to say that the first selfies that allowed users to quickly have another go if they weren’t happy with their first attempt, were the first adopters of the Polaroid instant print cameras in the late 20th century. But back then you might have had some explaining to do to the camera owner for taking pictures of your own face on the expensive film.
Whether one agrees with the findings that selfies promote narcissism, or instead chooses to join the camp believing that there is a connection with leadership abilities, your eyes will either roll or widen when you learn that there’s a correct protocol for taking selfies.
Angle, background and lighting are all factors that need to be considered before pressing the button.
A successful selfie involves the head titled slightly to the side, with the face taking up approximately one third of the screen.
A good selfie should only focus on one item. A neutral, not very busy background is your friend for showing off your face. If you are featuring something like a neck tattoo or a pair of earrings, your face becomes a background and should fill up more of the screen.
Once you have found your perfect pose, rotate yourself and your camera until your entire face is lit up. You’ll need to strike a balance here as you must avoid the shadow of your phone and make sure you’re not squinting from the sun.
It’s quite possible you’ll never think about taking a selfie the same way again, but now that you’re armed with the science, history and correct technique, the perfect selfie no doubt lies in your future. Don’t overthink it, but keep in mind after 4 attempts, you’ve creeped by the national average and could be making a scene.
Whatever way you use or access the internet, there’s a bundle for you. See how you can put a package together to let you enjoy it your way. Simply visit our bundle builder.
Why Not ‘One and Done’?
We now know that it takes an average of 4 selfie attempts to get the perfect shot but why aren’t we satisfied with the picture we take on our first attempt?
Perhaps the best answer can be found in the research of University College London neuroscientist James Kilner. According to Kilner, in our lifetimes we become very familiar with recognising and interpreting the facial expressions of others. However we get to look at our own faces far less frequently and hence we have a much poorer understanding of what we actually look like. This may explain that initial unhappiness when seeing a first selfie attempt and the impulse to keep trying until we produce an image that comes closer to matching our perception of what we think we should look like.
Selfies: Harmless Fun or a Health Hazard?
Selfies are here to stay, but if we take a closer look at the science behind the selfie, will we find that our selfies are doing more harm or more good for the population? Let’s dig deeper.
Leaders Through a Lens
Since their inception, selfies have always had a role in celebrity culture. Whether it’s the Pope, President Obama or a Kardashian, no member of the elite clique is untrained in the way of the selfie. Is it a coincidence that world leaders and industry icons are often caught in the selfie act, or is it as one US study suggests, that ladies who take selfies are thought to show leadership qualities? In a bizarre contrast, the study revealed that men who showed the same enthusiasm for taking selfies are regarded as being exploitative or entitled. So let’s focus on the positive here and celebrate the generations of female future leaders that will spawn from selfie culture.
You Love Yourself Too Much
Nobody likes to hear the word narcissism when it’s used to describe their personality, but it is a word that pops up again and again in selfie research. A 2015 study tested its participants for the following characteristics: narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism, also known as the ‘dark triad’. The study then analysed their selfie habits. The results showed that selfie posting was related to higher levels of narcissism and psychopathy.
So, it might be time to give up the duckface pose shot from a high angle for a while and hand over occasional photographer duties to a kind passer-by.
Social or Anti-Social?
Selfies and social media use go hand in hand. Let’s face it, if someone’s taking a selfie it’s because they are trying to put their perceived best image across to someone else whether on a newsfeed or in an instant message.
But it’s not just the selfie takers that are finding themselves put under pressure from selfie culture, it’s also regular social media users and selfie spectators. Three US universities proved this when they surveyed more than 800 female college students in order to find a correlation between body image and being exposed to selfies.
One of the authors of the study explained that negative body comparison facilitated by viewing Facebook leads to a phenomenon known as “mass mediated objectification”. Furthermore, the link between postings on social media and negative body image was especially prevalent in participants who were trying to lose weight.
The First Selfie
It might surprise some to know that the origins of the selfie reach back far beyond the Kardashians and the 21st century. In fact, some credit the first photographed self-portrait to Robert Cornelius in 1839. The photo in question was done on a daguerreotype, one of the earliest types of photographic presses. However, in the famous photo one can make out Cornelius crossing his arms, meaning he couldn’t have taken the type of photo we enjoy today.
It’s fair to say that the first selfies that allowed users to quickly have another go if they weren’t happy with their first attempt, were the first adopters of the Polaroid instant print cameras in the late 20th century. But back then you might have had some explaining to do to the camera owner for taking pictures of your own face on the expensive film.
How to Take the Perfect Selfie
Whether one agrees with the findings that selfies promote narcissism, or instead chooses to join the camp believing that there is a connection with leadership abilities, your eyes will either roll or widen when you learn that there’s a correct protocol for taking selfies.
Angle, background and lighting are all factors that need to be considered before pressing the button.
Angle
A successful selfie involves the head titled slightly to the side, with the face taking up approximately one third of the screen.
Background
A good selfie should only focus on one item. A neutral, not very busy background is your friend for showing off your face. If you are featuring something like a neck tattoo or a pair of earrings, your face becomes a background and should fill up more of the screen.
Lighting
Once you have found your perfect pose, rotate yourself and your camera until your entire face is lit up. You’ll need to strike a balance here as you must avoid the shadow of your phone and make sure you’re not squinting from the sun.
It’s quite possible you’ll never think about taking a selfie the same way again, but now that you’re armed with the science, history and correct technique, the perfect selfie no doubt lies in your future. Don’t overthink it, but keep in mind after 4 attempts, you’ve creeped by the national average and could be making a scene.
Build a Bundle Around You
Whatever way you use or access the internet, there’s a bundle for you. See how you can put a package together to let you enjoy it your way. Simply visit our bundle builder.