Analysis

After researching and reviewing my data, I found reoccurring themes for males and females and used quotes from the respondents to recode these thoughts. My first question asks ‘how do you identify yourself in terms of gender?’ The responses split evenly with 81 males, and 81 females. Because this was not an open-ended question, I didn’t recode it. So I’ll begin with my second question.  

Question 2: What is important to you when you put a photo of yourself online? Do you edit them? Why or why not?

When asking this question I noticed first, that many of the male respondents stated that it was okay to post a picture as long as it was “appropriate” for other people to see, like their family, friends or co-workers.  One respondent said “When I put a photo online, I understand that my grandma, girlfriend, friends, and brother can all see them. If it is not appropriate for all of those groups, I will not put it up. I don’t edit my photos.” Another respondent that cared about whether the photo is “appropriate” said this, “As long as I don't look like a idiot in my photo, I don't care about them being online. I don't edit my photos, but I have removed some that others have posted because it is embarrassing to see yourself blacked out with your pants off on Facebook and having to worry about your family seeing it. I should start editing my photos like that though, maybe photo shopping pants back onto my body and slimming down my body a bit to look better. The possibilities are endless.” Another respondent said, I usually post a picture of myself online that I think generally will receive approval from most of my friends.” Once again, a majority of the men cared about whether or not the photo was “appropriate”, which was surprising to me because I thought that males cared about their “beauty” just as much as girls. What truly mattered to them was what was “appropriate” or not, rather than “beauty.” For example one respondent said, “I do not edit the photos that I put on. I don't care if my smile isn't perfect or I'm looking a little chubby, it is about the experiences that I am sharing with my friends.” Even though there were fewer male respondents that actually stated that “beauty” in the photo was important to them when putting a photo online, there were still a few. For example, a male respondent said, “I want to put up flattering pictures. Nothing of me drunk or something that would have a negative connotation to it. I do not edit my pictures, seems like a waste of time that would take a very long time to do.” But even though this respondent did care “beauty”, it ended with him stating that he also didn’t want to put something up that was not “appropriate.” For male’s, I didn’t find respondents that solely said that they care only about “beauty.” Some mentioned that this was a concern, but so was looking “appropriate.” Few, but some males stated that they simply just “don’t” post pictures for their own reasons. For example one male respondent said, “I don't like to put pictures of myself online because no one wants to see a fat ugly guy…. but I don't think people want to see a picture of me.” Another respondent was more specific and said, “I don't put photos online. People judge them too hard. I'd rather them remember what I was like in person than trying to remember, "What did he look like in his last profile pic?"

The females shared some similarities with the males when it came to their replies. The males and females had similar answers but were different when it came to the importance of what was put up online. Like I stated above, the males seemed to be more concerned with the “appropriateness.” And even though females felt the same way, their concern with their “appearance.” For example, one female respondent said when responding to the question, “That I look good but most importantly that I look happy. I usually edit them because I have that option and typically everyone else uses filters as well.” Another female respondent said, “I only put up photos of myself that I think best reflect who I am and portray me positively. I do not edit them, I but do pick and choose which I put up and which I do not.” Both female participants were worried if their social medias reflected a positive “appearance.” For example another respondent tells what she usually does “I [usually] put…. pictures up to show the fun time I had because pictures of me are usually ones of me with my friends. I don't edit them because I'm fairly comfortable with the way I look.” What I found interesting with the gender difference was that even though I found men that cared about “beauty”, this was a more important category for women. A majority of the females stated that what matted to them was “beauty.For example, one female respondent said, “Who in their right mind doesn't edit pictures and choose them wisely?! I would never post an unflattering pic of myself.” She clearly states that this is what is important to her is what she looks like, and so do many other female respondents. Another respondent said, “To be honest, it is important for me to look good. I usually do edit the pictures for better color, contrast, and lighting usually so that it is overall "aesthetically pleasing.”” Another respondent said, “It is important to me that the picture looks good. I will edit or not post a photo that I do not look good in. I only want pictures up that I look good in because everyone can see them. Also, everyone else only portrays their "best self" on the Internet, so that becomes the norm.” Similar to the males, most females posted pictures of themselves online but of course, there were some who simply said that they “don’t”. For example one female participant simply said, “I don’t post pictures online.” Another participant said, “I don't put up photos of myself online, but there are a few up (sibling's FB, websites, etc.) and I don't edit them, but I do try my best to ask people to put up "good" pictures of me.” I enjoyed this quote because even though she “don’t”, the ones that are up because of her family members, still cared about “beauty.”

Question 3: How do images and pictures (on Facebook, Pinterest) make people feel about their bodies and/or self-images?

While reading the answers to this question, I noticed that t there were only two main themes from the male respondents. One theme that I recognized was that images and pictures online have a “positive” effect. Males said that images increase a “positive” effect on people’s perception of themselves. For example, one of the male respondents said, “They can help them feel better about themselves by showing them an optimal view of themselves to show others.” Another respondent said, “For most people: the more likes you get the better you feel about yourself. They want to feel good about their looks.” As a college student, this is something that I experience as well. When I get more likes on my photo, I realize that this is “positive” for me. Some of the respondents seemed to agree with me as well. Like this respondent said, “I think pictures make people feel good when they get more "likes" on their pictures.” What I found fascinating about the data that I was analyzing, was that it seemed like males thought that images and pictures on social medias made people feel more “negative” than “positive” on their “beauty”. For example, one male respondent said, “I think that many people can feel self-conscious about their bodies after being online and seeing people that are fitter/skinnier/prettier than themselves in their opinion.” Other male respondents agreed with this reply but mainly pointed out that this was more relevant to females, which I found to be surprising. For example one male respondent said, “It makes them self-conscious in general, because they compare them to others (mainly girls). I think many people are overly concerned about their physical appearance and worry about what others think.” Notice that this male respondent said, mainly girls. Another respondent said, “They do create problems for people's self image because of what the media is showing to be the "average" girl. These standards are not easy to obtain creating self-image problems.” One more respondent also stated that this mostly pertains to females, he said, “Makes people self-conscious, and make people want to do/have more (especially girls on pinterest).” Having some male respondents that thought it was only “positive”, and other that thought images and photos online were only “negative”, there were also that thought it could have both affects.

There wasn’t much of a difference with gender when it came to the respondent’s answers.  Some females said that they thought it had a “positive” effect on people. For example, one respondent said, “When people get lots of likes and comments on their pictures, they feel great about themselves because they feel that people appreciate them.” Another respondents said, “Some certainly feel fantastic about themselves.  We all want to present our best selves....” Another female respondent that felt like images had a “positive” effect said, “When people post pics of their bodies and get compliments it boosts their self confidence. Sometimes it annoys me when people post a ton of pictures of themselves I feel like their fishing for compliments.” Females were extremely similar to males because they both believed that photos and images online were more “negative” then “positive.” The only big difference that I noticed was the detail the females went into regarding “beauty” and how it could affect other people; some even stated their own experiences. For example one female respondent said, “Body image is a problem with today's youth and our world because of what is shown on tv and advertisements that show what people "should" look like. This could create problems with their bodies.” Another respondent said, “…..mostly affects body image and self-image. When I see pictures of girls in lingerie and bikinis on IG, for example, I do feel self-conscious or have lower body image for a little bit.”

Question 4: How do you think the information you put online affects people's perception of you?

While analyzing the data to this question, I noticed that, regarding what the information that an individual puts online, it influences what the audience thinks of them. Males said, people are going to “judge” you, regardless of what you put up online. For example one participant said, “I think people judge you based on how you look or the information you put up. They like to see if you are doing well or not.” Another respondent said, “I judge other people hard on the information they put online, so I feel like most people do the same when they perceive me and what I post.” Another male respondent said, “Significantly. People judge you regardless, but maybe even for longer online. Another reoccurring theme that I found was that it “depends” on how well you know the person. For example, one male respondent said, “I think that the information you share online has a lot to do with how people see you as a person, especially if they don't know you that well, since they base their perception of you solely on what they see in the online world.” Another male participant said, “I think that it only affects their perception about me if they do not know me well.” One more quote that I found interesting from a male participant was, “I can shape the way people see me if they don't know me personally.” Another participant said, “The people who don't know me could possibly think I am a completely different person than who I really am. But the people that know me would say, "that's totally something he would put up."” Similar to the females, not a lot, but a few males said that they “don’t” think what people put online influences what others think about them. For example, one male participant simply stated, “I don't think the information I put online affects people's perception of me.” And another male participant said, “I don't think it does really. Maybe physical attraction but that’s it.”

I didn’t find much gender difference when it came to people’s perception of you online. A lot of female respondents said that people “judge” on social media, for example, one female respondent said, “I think these days people judge you based on what they see online. I think that rather than getting to know you in person, people rely on your information online to judge your personality and who you are.” Another respondent said, “I think these days people judge you based on what they see online. I think that rather than getting to know you in person, people rely on your information online to judge your personality and who you are.” Another female respondent said, “I think people judge anyway, and online they may more. People's perception of you can change based on the pictures and information you put up online.” Another category that I created that was popular in the replies was it “depends”. For example, one respondent said, “That depends on how well I know them and if they've met/spent time with me.” Another female respondent said, “I think for people that have never met me before, the information I put online is the only way for them to judge my character.” So according to both male and female, it “depends” on how well the audience knows the poster. Even though this was not the majority, a few male respondents simply said that they “don’t” think what they put online affects the way other people view them. For example one participant stated, “I don’t really think so. Before I put up anything on the Internet, I first think of how people might perceive it. So I try to word things in a way that might not sound too arrogant or too childish. I don’t put info online that would cause people to judge me, and I would hope people don’t judge me from what they read online. “ Another reply from the respondent stated, “I don't think it changes how people see me because I don't put too much information on my page and the things I do put on aren't bad and it's all true.”