Discerning Selfiers: Differences between Taking and Sharing Selfies

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Media Studies
• Communication Theory

Background:

• Selfies offer intrapersonal opportunities for self-exploration and documentation.
• Sharing selfies transforms intrapersonal self-portraiture into masspersonal communication.
• Research has not fully explored the transition from taking to sharing selfies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate individual differences in selfie-taking and sharing behaviors.
• To understand when and for whom selfie moments become masspersonal communication.
• To assess the psychological factors differentiating selfie-takers ('selfiers').

Main Methods:

• Employed a novel strategy assessing the likelihood of taking versus sharing selfies.
• Categorized participants into 'discerning selfiers' (take > share) and 'non-discerning selfiers' (take = share).
• Measured perceived control and self-esteem in relation to selfie behavior.

Main Results:

• Discerning selfiers reported greater perceived control and higher self-esteem than non-discerning selfiers.
• Perceived control mediated the relationship between selfier type and self-esteem.
• Discerning selfiers felt less controlled by others, enhancing their security regarding social perceptions.

Conclusions:

• Differential deployment of selfies (taking vs. sharing) has unique psychological effects.
• Selfie behavior is linked to individual differences in perceived control and self-esteem.
• Understanding selfie sharing dynamics is crucial for masspersonal communication research.