Social networks are fast becoming one of the ways that we present ourselves not just to friends and family, but the big world out there. Your emails now offer the option of a picture, and often links your Facebook or other social network pictures to all mails sent. Likewise, this is the picture that often flashes up when you call someone by phone, Skype or Whatsapp. Many youngsters look to social networks to update old friends and make new ones. Prospective employers often trawl social networks before making a choice on a job candidate.
So your photo has become the first point of contact to the outside world and what you choose to portray with your profile picture needs to the well thought out. There are some new studies being done on this and here are some interesting findings from them. Please take some of these with a pinch of salt.
Firstly – the standard portrait of you from the waist up or higher – making eye contact and preferably smiling – shows that you are a well-adjusted person confident with your appearance. However, re-touching or editing these can send the message that you are packaging yourself for public consumption – and may imply that you are narcissistic. It appears that women making eye contact has a positive impact on viewers. Men’s photos appear most effective when they look away from the camera and don’t smile.
Pictures of you in the distance usually implies that you are a private person, probably shy and reserved, and don’t want everyone to know what you look like. This is separate from pictures of you with a national monument in the background – this is aimed at showing the world that you have travelled somewhere you think is special. A picture that is so close up, on the other hand, that it only shows part of your face tells people that you do not want to be recognized – but secretly you do and you cover this up by being pseudo arty.
A picture of you as an infant or a youngster suggests that you think everything in the past is better than it is now. You probably still love the same things you did back in high school/college, and you’ll probably never change. You also think you looked much better as a child.
Using a picture of a celebrity or a reference to pop culture – music, game avatar and the like – implies that you have no personality of your own and are totally defined by your entertainment choices – be it TV, music or otherwise. You are probably full of useless knowledge on your favourite subjects, but cannot hold a conversation about who you are as a person.
Now – those pictures showing skin! Pictures of men with their shirts off seems to attract more attention from younger girls – oh, and gays. If that is your aim, then go ahead. Pictures of women showing skin – cleavage, legs and the like – sends the message that you are possibly hot but also insecure. You require attention and have to expose more than normal to get it. Again – such pictures attract more attention and responses from younger viewers, but also attract older predatory viewers.
Party pictures of you holding drinks, illegal substances, making gangster gestures or being drunk or under the influence shows that you are young, daft and susceptible to peer pressure. These pictures are likely to lose you prospective jobs, or even get you fired at some stage of your life – unless you are someone like Snoop Doggy Dog!
Wedding pictures tell the world that you are now all grown up and are entirely defined by your relationship. Pictures of your children or a baby suggests that the only thing you have achieved in your adult life is having a child. Fair enough – remember, being a parent is one of the most important jobs anyone can have.
Take a quick look at your profile picture and mail me your feedback.
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