In 2014, Jim -Kwon and Kwon explored the, at the time new, selfie phenomenon through a study which included in depth interviews with young adults who regularly participate in the practise .Through their study, Jim- Kwon and Kwon aimed to examine how young adults might exhibit and pursue their “real selves”, through the practise of taking selfies.
Methodology:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 66 participants, all of them being College students in South Korea. Participants were asked various questions about their selfie taking, such as when and why they take the pictures, and what they do with them afterwards.
Participants were also asked to discuss any memories or experiences related to selfies, and the use of editing software on their photographs.
Findings:
Through the interviews, the researches were able to distinguish three different authenticating acts in which the interviewees participated in when taking selfies: to embody, to transfer, to employ the self and to feel connected.
To Embody Self:
Participants stated that selfies helped them explore their own appearance, sometimes using selfies instead of a mirror as a means of self-discovery.
During his interview, Participant 8 expressed that he uses selfies as a way to check on his appearance and also his thoughts, as he believes that his current state of mind can translate through his selfies.
Participant 35 also stated that she viewed her selfies as if she were a third person.
Participants also expressed that selfies allows them to study their own facial expressions and aid them in self- discovery.
To Transfer Self:
Although selfie taking is usually a private affair, most people tend to use their selfies as a way of letting people know what they have been up to lately or express themselves on social media. Participants stated that they use their selfies in order to show off their appearance, relationships or latest holiday, as it is a more acceptable medium of sharing their exciting activities with the world than “bragging”.
For most of the participants, posting selfies on social media is a way of keeping people updated about their life without having to update everyone on their activities through separate conversations.
To Employ Self:
Selfies which have been posted publicly elicit social interactions, as people consume selfies through posting comments and giving “likes”. Once a selfie is posted on social media, its existence depends on others’ reactions to the photograph. Thus, the consumption rate of their selfies can influence how often participants update their social media, and selfies which elicit the most response from their online friends are the kind of selfie which they might perceive as “good”.
To Feel Connected:
Nearly all of participants stated that the act of taking selfies, i.e. with friends, or posting selfies online which might elicit a response from friends, makes them feel connected and sociable.
How much response they receive from a selfie could also affect how the participants viewed themselves. For example, Participant 27 expressed that she would rather receive “malicious” comments than no comments at all on a selfie, as that would mean that the commentators were still showing interest toward her.
A few participants also stated that selfies helped them expand their social circle and posting photographs with their significant other helped their partner become more accepted by their friends and family.
Lastly, participants expressed that the act of taking a selfie gives them more control over the way they look in photographs, and consequently how they are perceived by others through those photographs.
Through this qualitative study,Jim- Kwon and Kwon concluded that the response of the selfie consumption is vital in how people perceive themselves and form their identity. They stated that “We view the selfie practice as a type of consumption through objectification of self”. People are willing to share their real selves, but at the same time they cultivate the image of their self which they think will elicit the most response and aid in enhancing their social status, thus adopting many different instances as their “real” self.
Reference:
Jim-Kwon Y., Kwon K. (2014) Case Study: Consuming the Objectified Self: The Quest for Authentic Self. Asian Social Science.11(2)
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