Women who post lots of photos of themselves on Facebook value appearance, need attent

[mo mo]

March 10, 2011|By Shari Roan, Los Angeles Times

 

A study on how people use social networking websites such as Facebook confirms what many of us suspected. Women who post loads of photos of themselves on their sites are conveying some strong personal characteristics, according to new research. These women are more likely to base their self-worth on appearance and use social networking to compete for attention.

 

The study involved 311 men and women with an average age of 23. In order to better understand aspects of social networking behavior, the researchers looked at the amount of time subjects spent managing profiles, the number of photos they shared, the size of their online networks and how promiscuous they were in terms of “friending” behavior. The participants completed a questionnaire designed to measure self worth and were asked about their typical behaviors on Facebook.

 

There were differences between women and men. Overall, the results suggest that, compared with men, females identify more strongly with their image and appearance and use Facebook to compete for attention, said the lead author of the study, Michael A. Stefanone, an assistant professor of communications at the University of Buffalo.

 

The women who had the largest social networks and posted more photos of themselves were more highly vested in their appearance.

 

“The results suggest persistent differences in the behavior of men and women that result from a cultural focus on female image and appearance,” Stefanone said in a news release. “t is disappointing to me that in the year 2011 so many young women continue to assert their self worth via their physical appearance — in this case, by posting photos of themselves on Facebook as a form of advertisement. Perhaps this reflects the distorted value pegged to women’s looks throughout the popular culture and in reality programming from ‘The Bachelor’ to ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians.’ ”

 

The authors also speculated that posting a lot of photos of oneself in the company of other people “may serve to communicate the importance of particular relationships because these bonds may provide security regarding ones appearance and self worth.”

 

The people who tended to base their self worth on things like academic competence, family love and support, and being a virtuous or moral person spent less time online and showed less interest in attention-seeking through social media.

 

In other news, the world is round.

[mo mo]

There's this girl I used to work with who was really pretty. She added me to her facebook, and unsurprisingly enough, she was one of those. The day after I accepted her request to be my friend on facebook, she asked me about the pictures she had up. She was surprised that I didn't go through all her albums and comment on all her pics.

 

I also had an ex that updated her main picture like, everyday.

[Lucky_One]

My son is in the later years of high school, and he has a wide range of girl friends from, say, 13 - 22, that he has met from school, church, and sports in our area.

 

When I look at their profiles, I am always amazed at some of the girls pictures - they are identical poses, the girls with their arms wrapped tight around another girl's neck, huge smile, but all saying "Look at me! Look at me!" I mean, how many pictures of yourself do you need, with the same pose, same smile, same everything, different shirt (and too much eyeliner)?

 

Interestingly enough, he "likes" the girls who have pictures of themselves playing softball, tennis, horseback riding, or who post pictures of themselves with family and friends doing things.

[mo mo]

My son is in the later years of high school, and he has a wide range of girl friends from, say, 13 - 22, that he has met from school, church, and sports in our area.

 

When I look at their profiles, I am always amazed at some of the girls pictures - they are identical poses, the girls with their arms wrapped tight around another girl's neck, huge smile, but all saying "Look at me! Look at me!" I mean, how many pictures of yourself do you need, with the same pose, same smile, same everything, different shirt (and too much eyeliner)?

 

Interestingly enough, he "likes" the girls who have pictures of themselves playing softball, tennis, horseback riding, or who post pictures of themselves with family and friends doing things.

 

Good for him. He likes the girls that do something with themselves other than try to show off to strangers

[Darren Taylor]

Spot on. I've seen girls on Facebook that have 100+ pictures of themselves. Some have that seductive look, some are half naked, some have the camera looking down on their cleavage. It's disgusting. And what's even sadder is a lot of these girls are pretty. They're not ugly at all.

[persevere]

I would agree with this. Women sometimes ask me why I don't have more pictures of myself. I have about 4 of me on my fb. How many does someone need?

The same goes for online dating. When a woman puts way too many pictures of herself up, it's a turnoff. A sort of arrogance? The same goes when they have, say, 6 of themselves and 10 of their dog or cat. What the? Not dating the pets here...

[SteveC80]

Most women crave constant attention

[Pyro]

Common sense that either gender who does that is in need of attention.

[Rinnix]

I only have 3 photos on my facebook. I haven't changed them for months. I couldn't care less if anyone were to compliment them or not.

 

Quite frankly, I'm not too fond of social media, I hardly even use the website.

[Jazzari]

I have 15 pictures of me, 23 pictures of my husband, 10 of my son and 11 of various family. I have 42 pictures of dogs.

[lovingADove]

On Facebook, people (Men and Women) advertise themselves to at least people they (supposedly) know.

On these online dating sites, people advertise themselves ... to total strangers.

 

Let's face it, if you don't advertise yourself, how are you going to meet other people, especially if you are single (man or woman)? People are not going to find you in your ... cave...

 

I only have a dozen pictures on my facebook page, I haven't changed my profile picture for at least 4 years, and I'm not planning on changing it anytime soon. But, I do understand people who constantly change their pictures.

There is NOTHING WRONG with seeking attention, if it is for the right reasons.

[Art_Critic]

Considering that the age group of 35 to 44 dominates the base of FB and the like the study is obviously flawed

 

Now... a few years ago it was the 18-25 age group.. but that age group is so yesterday

Edited May 23, 2011 by Art_Critic

[ice salamander]

Women who are on facebook are attention whores. It is as simple as that.

 

Try dating one, you'll see for yourself they're not worth it.

[threebyfate]

No surprise. I don't have any social media accounts.

[Star Gazer]

No surprise. I don't have any social media accounts.

 

Really? Not even to kinda keep up with family and stuff? To keep in touch with friends and family who aren't local, and who post pictures of their babies and graduations and vacations and the like? It's the easiest way to keep in contact, I've found.

 

These days I find it really shocking when someone doesn't have a FB account, if only for that purpose.

[mo mo]

I doubt it is cultural. I think it is instinctive. Women know what men want most without society telling them. Therefore they invest more time into it and get competitive since they are fishing from the same pool. It is one form that survival of the fittest is taking in the 21st century. The girls who don't compete have given up, admitted defeat, and have keeled over to die in the dust or they have moved on to maternity. Older women have already done their competing which they either came out victorious or failed horribly.

 

uhhhh right

 

I dunno, I don't really think its about competition in most cases. I think its more about insecurities.

[Jazzari]

I didn't see the point of Facebook at first, but now I love it. I have friends and family scattered all over the world. It's a wonderful way to feel close to someone in daily minor ways and not just the major things that you share in phone calls.

[musemaj11]

Facebook is awesome. It helps me getting in touch with all the people I have already known in real life.

[radiodarcy]

Common sense that either gender who does that is in need of attention.

 

agreed. men aren't immune to attention-seeking behavior any more than women are. not that all men do it -- but all women don't do it either. my ex pretty much has nothing but pics of himself. and posts his goings on 24/7. but -- that him.

 

i have an acct but rarely every go on there. and for the record i have 8 pictures of me and 16 pics of my dog and two cats