Self-Presentation, Social Media, and Beauty Standards Among Adolescents

Abstract

In the age of social media, the pervasive behavior of taking and sharing selfies has garnered significant attention, prompting a deeper examination of the motivations and consequences associated with this practice. This review paper examines the current state of knowledge in understanding the psychological and social factors driving selfie behavior. Key themes emerging from the literature include self-presentation, attention-seeking, communication, and archiving, each shedding light on why individuals, especially adolescents, are drawn to capturing and sharing their self-portraits. Despite the substantial body of work, there remains a lack of research on the anxiety-inducing effects of selfie behavior, particularly in relation to social comparison and selfie editing practices. One limitation of the current research is the absence of longitudinal studies that track the long-term psychological impacts of selfie culture. These findings have important implications for developing interventions to mitigate negative psychological effects and inform future research and practice in digital media and mental health.