But first, let me take a #selfie: Analysis of selfies and sexual self-identification on Instagram

Abstract

Decades of research on face-ism in traditional media consistently report women are more likely to be pictured from a more distant perspective than men, showing more of their bodies. In a cultivation-like manner, women are socialized to believe that their most important characteristics are located in the body. In the online arena, however, individuals have much more control over their image and may self-present in any way they choose. Unfortunately, it appears that online users of social networks are mirroring the traditional, gendered manner of presenting the self. Within the framework of gender schema theory, a content analysis used the face-ism index and shot type to determine the facial prominence of 621 male and female Instagram users who both did and did not sexually self-identify. Using hashtags to sexually self-identify as #gay or #lesbian, the content analysis revealed that the face-ism effect prevails across both sexual self-identification and presentation. However, Instagram users who sexually self-identify do not follow the hetero-normative patterns of presentation and self-impression patterns of non-identified Instagram users. In addition, Instagram users who sexually self-identify do not adhere to the gendered patterns used in traditional, mass media.