Blending In or Standing Out? Investigating the Impact of Selfies and Social Comparison and Individuals’ Self-Concept

• In Event: Social Cognition, Comparison, and Influence

Abstract

The selfie concept, which refers to ‘digital self-portraits,’ has become particularly popular among teenagers and celebrities across the world (Block, 2014, Wortham, 2013). The increasing use of selfies, however, has raised various concerns such as whether social media has exacerbated narcissistic tendencies among young adults (Chamorro-Premuzic, 2014). The preponderance of these posts begs the question of how such activities and shared information is connected to one’s tendency to socially compare and ultimately influence one’s conception of the self. In this study, using a popular photo sharing platform, Instagram, we investigate the ‘selfie’ concept within the context of social comparison, narcissism, and physical attractiveness. We incorporate a mediator-moderator approach to measure the predictive power of different types of selfies on an individual’s satisfaction with his/her own personal image. Results of this research will provide insights into mediator - moderator relationships on social psychological research addressing digital media usage.

Authors

• Zeynep Melis Altinay, Louisiana State University

• Arienne Ferchaud, Pennsylvania State U

• Minjie Li, Louisiana State University

• Shiyla Sharae Goodie, California State U - Monterrey Bay

• Meghan Shara Sanders, Louisiana State U