Motivations for Taking Selfies on Instagram

Ariela Ponti, Hongyang Zhou, Diana Bravo, Chien Wen Yuan, Donghee Yvette Wohn

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Selfies have become a common and popular form of communication and self-representation in the digital age, particularly for the purpose of posting on social media. While the phenomenon has been widely studied, this paper seeks to examine motivations for selfie-taking specific to Instagram through in-depth interviews with 25 young adults. We identified six key themes behind why people take selfies: emphasizing physical appearance, expressing personal identity, conveying authenticity, documenting life experiences, fostering social connections, and seeking popularity. This study sheds light on how selfies serve multiple roles, from social engagement to personal reflection, and highlights how technology continues to shape identity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationGROUP Companion 2025 - 2025 ACM International Conference on Supporting Group Work
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery, Inc
Pages42-47
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9798400711879
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 12 2025
Event2025 ACM International Conference on Supporting Group Work, GROUP Companion 2025 - Hilton Head, United States
Duration: Jan 12 2025Jan 15 2025

Publication series

NameGROUP Companion 2025 - 2025 ACM International Conference on Supporting Group Work

Conference

Conference2025 ACM International Conference on Supporting Group Work, GROUP Companion 2025
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityHilton Head
Period1/12/251/15/25

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Computer Science Applications
  • Information Systems

Keywords

  • identity
  • self-presentation
  • Selfie
  • social media

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