Social and Psychological Aspects

A Systematic Review of the Impact of Selfie Activities on Body Image Concerns

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Abstract

The present study is a content analysis of the growing body of research on selfie activities and their impact on body image. To identify studies for this analysis, a search was performed using the Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Premiere databases with the terms “selfie” or “selfies. We located 775 articles published; 21 met study inclusion criteria. The process of selecting/editing selfies or attending to others’ responses to posted selfies resulted in self-objectification, increases in appearance concerns, as well as peer comparison and body dissatisfaction. Positive feedback concerning a selfie can increase selfie-posters’ body or facial satisfaction but high investment in selfie feedback can also increase body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. In addition, viewing others’ selfies, particularly idealized and manipulated selfies, resulted in negative effects on viewer’s body image. This study sheds light on the different operationalizations of selfie activities and related body image outcomes.

Keywords: Selfies, Self-presentation, Systematic Review, social comparison, self-objectification, self-presentation, selfies, body image, Body Image Concerns

How to Cite:

Song, S. & Johnson, K. K., (2020) “A Systematic Review of the Impact of Selfie Activities on Body Image Concerns”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 77(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.12196