Carol Cassara

  • Home
  • About
  • Archives
  • Portfolio
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

Selfies & social media: “it’s all about me”

September 5, 2013 By Carol Cassara 12 Comments

new-study-shows-facebook-social-media-could-b-L-_LmdfO

Sometimes it gets to be more than a bit too much.

Every single day I open my Facebook page and see at least one and often more than one brand new flattering photo of one or more social media friends posted on their account. Not to mention dozens of ubiquitous (and aptly named) “selfies.”   And often, new flattering self-images are posted more than once a week. I’m not talking about vacation or family photos. I’m talking about the “selfie:”  a solo shot of the person doing…nothing, just looking fabulous. Taken by themselves. Or even shots taken by others.

Don’t get me wrong: I love seeing a new profile photo every once in a while, and I love seeing my friends doing fun things. Like kayaking with their dogs, baking with their grandkids, holding a newly-published book.  But so many portrait and self-portrait photos?  Not so interesting.

“Here I am in the most flattering light possible!” some of the scream, while others display the poster in a variety of situations: drunk, half asleep, breasts hanging out, (and my favorite:) in a MIRROR—as if we are all anxious to see their every moment of their lives documented. Plus, as I’ve written before, more image management goes on via social media than we might like to think.

Does it all seem a little….narcissistic….to you, too?

The selfie defines narcissism, I think, and a selfie taken in a mirror jumps self-obsession to a whole new level. All this self-obsession can’t bode well. It just can’t.  Recent studies* show that I’m not off the mark. Of course, social media have become fresh fodder for scholarly research, and I’m glad to see some of the findings are appearing in mainstream media. The big questions are “how do social media affect people” and “what will this mean for society in the future?”

images-2Here are a few excerpts from research findings:

“Young people are becoming increasingly narcissistic and obsessed with self image and shallow friendships.”

“Narcissism is a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration and an exaggerated sense of self-importance.”

“Young people may over-evaluate the importance of their own opinions.”

“Facebook offers a gateway for hundreds of shallow relationships and emotionally detached communication.”

“Twitter fuels younger adults’ narcissistic tendencies by acting as a megaphone for their thoughts, while Facebook fuels middle aged adults’ narcissistic tendencies by serving as a mirror where they can curate images of themselves.”

Yep, lots of self-obsessed behavior on social media.

I can only wonder what this might mean for society in the future. Imagine an entire world made up of self-obsessed adults.

What do you think?

 

*Excerpts from:
Christopher Carpenter, professor of communication at Western Illinois University, study Narcissism on Facebook: Self-promotional and Anti-social Behavior

Elliot Panek, PhD, University of Michigan

 

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: mark zuckerberg facebook, Opinions, Social Media, Technology, Writing

Comments

  1. Laura Kennedy says

    September 5, 2013 at 10:58 am

    And get the hell off my lawn!

    Reply
    • admin says

      September 5, 2013 at 11:04 am

      You think I’m crabby? ROTFL. Laura!

      Reply
  2. Walker Thornton says

    September 5, 2013 at 11:03 am

    Even the term ‘selfie’ is appalling to me. I’ve never enjoyed taking photos of myself so it’s not something you’ll see me doing. What many of these adults don’t understand is the staying power of this self-portrayal. Long after they’re past that phase those photos will linger. Glad you added the bit about middle aged adults because it’s not just the teens who flaunt themselves!

    As for the mirror “portrait”–I used to see many of them in the profiles of over 50 men on dating sites. Creepy!

    Reply
    • admin says

      September 5, 2013 at 11:05 am

      Yes, exactly. I see a lot of “image management” among our cohort. It makes me laugh, but really, our concern should be this self-obsession and its impact on kids who grow up with it.

      Reply
  3. Laura Lee Carter aka the Midlife Crisis Queen says

    September 5, 2013 at 11:22 am

    My definition of narcissistic: Enough about me, what do YOU think of me?

    Reply
    • admin says

      September 5, 2013 at 12:07 pm

      That’s funny. For years my ex and I would say “enough about me, let’s talk about me’ in referring to certain self-centered friends! Same thing.

      Reply
  4. Jo Heroux says

    September 5, 2013 at 11:42 am

    Selfies are okay, by me anyway, if they are just your profile shot and look like you. I, too, have ‘friends’ who post several new shots each month and obviously are looking for the ‘beautiful girl (handsome guy’ remarks for doing so and I never comment unless they really are displaying a GREAT and improved shot of themselves. Changing your profile picture does not have to be displayed on your page, yet most people who change often, display every single one! You have the option to show only to yourself. Choose that!

    But for the kids, I do think it will change relationships down the road. I think friends will be made in a whole new and different way and it could be good or not so much. Social media does allow us to make connections based on intellect and mutual loves or interests before actually meeting and I think that can be good. But nothing will ever replace a real life hug, a real life conversation or a real life friend. Nothing says they can’t start as FB Friends or twitter friends, several of mine have.

    Reply
    • admin says

      September 5, 2013 at 12:08 pm

      Ah, yes, the “fishing for compliments” portrait. I know it well! As far as kids go, i’m not so much concerned about how they make friends, the mechanism by which it happens, since I’ve also made friends online & via social media. More concerned about the narcissistic tendencies social media seem to promote and what kind of adults will result.

      Reply
  5. Susan Cooper says

    September 5, 2013 at 12:36 pm

    I find it funny how technology has created narcissistic society. I have always said once on the web always on the web and many young adults do not understand this. 🙂

    Reply
    • admin says

      September 6, 2013 at 10:03 am

      Well, yes, there is that, for sure!

      Reply
  6. Michelle says

    September 6, 2013 at 6:14 am

    Totally agree! I find the behavior bizarre and foreign. I recall watching a girl take selfies outside one evening, over and over and over. My first thought was that these camera phones are creating a bunch of narcissists. But, you’re right…it’s the web, because to be someone, you must be online. And any publicity is better than no publicity.

    Reply
    • admin says

      September 6, 2013 at 10:04 am

      Having spent an entire career in publicity and reputation management, I always want to tell folks there’s plenty of publicity that’s not good publicity. Or “What ARE you thinking?!”

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow Carol

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome!

Carol-hat-EldersenseYour visit may make you laugh, think or expand a point of view. It might inform, inspire or even push some buttons. You’ll find intriguing discussions of spirituality as well as new ideas of all kinds.  You’ll also find some of the smartest commenters on the web. You don't have to agree with me either--all views respectfully expressed are welcome. So if something resonates with you in any way, don't hesitate to comment! Thank you for stopping by--oh, and why not subscribe so you don't miss a post?

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required
Newsletter Consent

Search

Explore




Copyright

NOTICE RE: COPYRIGHT 2016 Carol A. Cassara. All rights reserved. All content on the site is subject to intellectual property rights, contractual or other protection. The intellectual property rights are owned by Carol A. Cassara. No content may be copied, distributed, republished, uploaded, posted or transmitted in any way except with Carol A. Cassara’s express written consent. Permission is granted to send content via email for personal, non-commercial use as long as credit and a link to this website are given. Modification or use of the materials for any other purpose or in any other manner may violate intellectual property rights.

© 2019 · Carol Cassara

Privacy Policy
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkNoRead more