Selfies, Communications and Female Students Self– Presentation in Social Network Sites (SNS)

New Media and Mass Communication

Abstract

The paper seeks to uncover how the three pronged dynamics of culture, personality and religion have shaped the 3W’s and H namely What, Why, Where and How in relation to selfie utilization and self-presentation on Social Networking Sites (SNS). Using quantitative (descriptive survey) rather than the “usual” qualitative approaches used by researchers in the area of selfie studies, this paper examines many variables that highlighted novel undercurrents in the use of selfie by female university students. A total of 370 female students of the University of Uyo were surveyed and another 350 – student member study group was created on SNS to aggregate their views on why they engage in selfies and possible satisfaction from such engagement. The findings reveal that selfie posting by female university student are driven more by personality (59%) and religious orientations (14%) rather than culture (5%),this paper also reveals that female students who engaged in selfiedidso forself-presentation and self-fulfilment. In essence,this paper argues that selfie use on SNSs is not motivated by sociocultural or national issues but by students moods, self - actualisation, and as a way to present preferred self and image on the SNSs. These, the paper concludes, are disconnected from socio economic cum cultural realities that people hope youths should engage in their Social Network Sites interaction.

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