Men and women take selfies differently and researchers think they know why.
We all want to look our best in photos and find the most flattering ones to use on dating profiles. And new research from Canada finds both men and women manipulate their image to make a good impression on a dating site, we just don’t do it in the same way.
For the study, researchers from the University of Saskatchewan reviewed Tinder profiles of 900 men and women and found major differences in the way we take selfies. Men are more likely to upload pics taken from waist high because the tilted up angle makes them seem more powerful and taller. They say men snap their selfies this way for evolutionary reasons: women perceive taller men as stronger, more fertile, and better protectors.
But women tend to snap selfies from just above head height, and they say that’s to hide parts of the body we’re not confident about. And also so we don’t want to come across as “too dominant” to potential male partners.
Researchers found that about 40% of men took their photos in this upward way, but only 16% of women did. And 25% of women took their pics from above their head, compared to only 16% of men.
According to the researchers, “When taking a selfie for an online dating profile, people intuitively manipulate the vertical camera angle to embody how they want to be perceived by the opposite sex.” And we get it. It’s tough to find a love connection, so people are willing to do whatever it takes.
Source: New York Post