# Discerning Selfiers: Differences between Taking and Sharing Selfies

## TL;DR

The study explores how people who take selfies differ from those who also share them, finding that those who take more selfies have higher self-esteem and a sense of control.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a novel approach to categorizing selfie behavior and reveals psychological differences between discerning and non-discerning selfiers.

## Key findings

- Discerning selfiers report higher control and self-esteem than non-discerning selfiers.
- Control mediates the relationship between selfier type and self-esteem.
- Discerning selfiers feel more secure about others' perceptions of them.

## Abstract

Selfies provide unique opportunities to explore, document, and interact with the self through photography. However, the inherent intrapersonal affordance of self-portraiture becomes a unique manifestation of masspersonal theory when selfies are shared, a step that is often assumed but not unpacked in selfie research. Therefore, it is essential to understand when and for whom these intrapersonal and interpersonal moments evolve into masspersonal moments or communication episodes. This study uses a novel strategy to investigate selfie behavior–the likelihood of taking and sharing selfies–to assess individual differences between selfie-takers, or “selfiers”. Discerning selfiers–people more likely to take than share selfies–report greater control and self-esteem compared to non-discerning selfiers, who are equally as likely to take as share selfies. Furthermore, control mediates the effect of selfier type on self-esteem; discerning selfiers report that others are not in control of their life, resulting in greater security regarding others’ perceptions of them. The current findings reveal the unique effects of differential deployment of selfies.