“I feel like this picture came right out of a commic book.” - Senior Jordan Langer
Are you one of the millions of people that changed their profile picture on Facebook today? Of the 400 million Facebook users, profile pictures range from style to fashion, from intriguing to confusing – and the picture is often quite as interesting as user’s motives.
Unless you’ve specifically set your privacy settings, the hundreds of pictures of you that are tagged on your Facebook are available for the entire world of Facebook users to see. What sort of impression of ourselves are we giving off by our profile picture? Students around campus are known to display pictures that capture them having a good time with friends, supporting their favorite “sport-ball” team, or experiencing a moment that has become memorable to them. Some people want their picture to have a unique edge that sticks out and becomes noticed by Facebook users. Others think profile pictures are simply irrelevant.
Why did you choose the picture you have? What’s the thought process behind the change when you make one? Maybe it’s as simple as taking a new picture because you’re tired of your old one. When it gets down to it, however, choosing a Facebook profile picture may be more of an art than we’d assume.
Currently displaying himself and two friends at a baseball game, sophomore Steve Ehlers said of his picture, “I picked mine because I think it’s funny and I wanted something different.” Young adult men are more apt to find pictures that create a funny or cool vibe for them.
“It portrays my passion – and Kai Hao Chen took it. What’s not to love?” said senior Matthew Skelton whose picture shows him playing the guitar.
As seen by freshman Miranda Fischer’s simple picture of her with two friends, profile pictures can be used as a way of connecting with loved ones. She said, “I chose my picture because it reminds me of my friends back home that I miss so dearly.”
According to a recent study done by 17-year-old Nina Jones in collaboration with the BBC, “men are 50% more likely to have retouched their photo than women and 20% less likely to be smiling in it. Being in a relationship raised men’s chances of a smiling photo by some 35%.”
For working adults on Facebook, their profile pictures are often seen to display a professional headshot or no picture at all so their name and face are not associated together. Many times, “the older generation” likes to show pictures of their families or just of their children.
Whether missing your friends, expressing your interests, or hoping for a laugh inspired your current choice, we all know Facebook can be a world of its own. Does your picture represent the real you?
