Revealing images as facebook profile pictures: influences of demographics and relationship status

Abstract

In this study, we examined the impact of demographics and relationship status on posting a revealing picture of oneself as a profile picture on Facebook. We randomly sampled and coded 1,000 profiles of Israeli Facebook users ranging in age between 18 and 61 years. Over 40% of the profiles showed at least 1 picture of the user dressed in a skimpy outfit. Results of a multiple logistic regression model indicated that younger age, a lower level of education, and not being engaged in a committed romantic relationship were significant predictors of the posting of these pictures. Further, gender alone was not a significant predictor, but the interaction of gender and level of education was. Specifically, women with a high-schoollevel education posted revealing pictures of themselves more often than did men with a similar level of education. We analyzed our results in light of Goffman's theory of self-presentation.