Me, Myselfie and I: Motivational Factors and the Influence of Sociodemographic and Personality Variables

• In Event: Mobile Motivations

Abstract

With the rise of smartphones and social networking sites, selfies have become a ubiquitous and global phenomenon. The goal of the presented paper was to investigate which sociodemographic and personality variables determine whether and how people use selfies. Moreover, we analyzed different motivations to take selfies and share them online. Among other results, data showed that more women than men to take selfies because they feel and look good, whereas mens’ motivation to take selfies because they want to express something is significantly higher than womens’. Moreover women have a significant higher motivation to upload or share selfies because of the presentation of the outer appearance than men. With regard to personality traits, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that especially the need for popularity is an important significant predictor for different types of motivations to take selfies and share them online.

Keywords: Selfie – Impression Management – motivational factors – sociodemographic variables – personality traits

Authors

• Jessica Martina Szczuka, University of Duisburg-Essen

• Janina Weiss, U of Duisburg-Essen

• Sepiedeh Fazlali, U Duisburg-Essen

• Nicole C. Kramer, U of Duisburg - Essen