The Truth Behind Selfies

Let’s be honest. Growing up in 2020 is a vastly different experience than it was 20 years ago. A tremendous cultural transformation has occurred in just a few short years with the acceleration of smartphone, tablet and media use beyond what has ever been seen before.

Within the unique environments of various social media platforms, posting selfies has become a common practice for adults and media-connected youth alike. While there are countless reasons a person may post a selfie, recent research offers some valuable insights into the psychology of selfies and some actionable recommendations for caretakers.

Why Do People Take Selfies?

Taking selfies and posting them on social media can serve a variety of purposes for users. In essence, a selfie photo gives creators control over how they present themselves to others. They manipulate the shot, choose the setting and, with ever-evolving technology, selfie-takers can even edit and transform the image itself. Once the tailored self-image is perfected, it can then be posted online. For many, posting selfies is a form of self-expression, a way to explore different identities, or an attempt to create an aspirational version of themselves.

Selfies in Excess

While posting selfies is commonplace in social media, adolescents and emerging adults who frequently post may be doing so from a place of insecurity. In a 2018 article entitled “An Exploratory Study of ‘Selfitis’ and the Development of the Selfitis Behavior Scale,” researchers Janarthanan Balakrishnan and Mark Griffiths proposed that individuals take and post selfies in excess for six main reasons:

Self-confidence – Sharing a tailored self-image to both display confidence and feel more confident.

Environmental enhancement – Posting selfies in different places to share or show off.

Social competition – Seeking to gain followers or ‘likes’ as a measure of self-worth compared with others.

Attention seeking – Attempting to gain attention from others with the hope of receiving positive feedback.

Mood modification – Posting selfies to feel better.

Subjective conformity – Trying to fit in and behave like their peers.

Frequent selfie posting could originate from a variety of motivations, and not all of them are necessarily problematic. The need for social connection is nearly universal and adolescents, in particular, are motivated to seek acceptance and establish identity with their peers.

When young people use social media platforms to communicate, interact and relate, we must understand that this is normal, prosocial behavior in our modern age. However, when selfie posting is done frequently with an expectation of receiving reassurance for a mood boost, it may speak to an unhealthy relationship with social media and difficulties with self-esteem.

What Can We Do?

When it comes to cultivating a healthy relationship with sharing on social media, how can caretakers help? Here are a few ways:

Promote healthy lifestyles. Research shows that excessive screen use is common and detrimental to the health of both youths and adults. In the case of adolescents, experts recommend no more than two hours of screen time a day. This limit is also related to more physical activity throughout the day and better sleep at night. Help your children cultivate screenless hobbies and encourage this healthy balance.

Encourage in-person social activities. As much as social media can help us connect, it should never fully replace in-person socialization. Play to your child’s interests and find ways to incorporate face-to-face interaction. Does your child love playing video games online? Consider games to bring them together with friends. Have a bookworm? Find a local book club where your child can engage with others about their favorite literature. Many popular youth activities can be made into an opportunity for developing real-life social skills.

Keep communication pathways open. Letting your children know that no topic is off-limits is a good first step in increasing communication and understanding. Social media can be a great platform for self-expression, but it’s important that your child knows you are also interested in their status update. Reassure them that they are always safe to share with you, too.

Show love. Again and again, the core of raising healthy, self-assured children is letting them know they are loved for who they are. Take opportunities to show them they’re loved in the real world, outside of their perfect social media selfie.

Selfie sharing isn’t going anywhere, but neither is the need for real connection. Reassure your children with your own encouragement and affirmation for who they are beyond their online profiles. Formation of identity and the desire to be accepted by peers is paramount in the lives of youth, but knowing that they are loved can make a much bigger impact than a few likes.

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