2017-02-20 Selfie-Absorbed: Body Image, Narcissism, and Empathy in the Smartphone Era

Selfie-Absorbed

Frederick S. LaneAlaska Society for Technology in

EducationAnchorage, AK

20 February 2017

Body Image, Narcissism, and Empathy in the Smartphone Era

The Four Millennials

Burlington School Bd.

8 Books

Educational Consulting• Lectures and Presentations• Professional Development• Consulting on Policies and

Procedures• Information Sessions for Parents and

Students• “The Cybertraps Blog”• Slideshare.net/FSL3 (87 lectures)

Lecture Overview• Children and Technology• The Rise of the Selfie• Definitions• Physical & Psychological

Trends• Should We Ban Phones (or

Mirrors)?

Children and Technology

• Hardware• Apps and Software• Behaviors and Boundaries• Social Media• Younger and Younger• Digital Citizenship

All About Communication

Actual Child Screen Time• 1995: Children 5-16 spent appx. 3

hours per day using a screen• 2015: More than doubled, to 6.5

hours – some studies estimate 9 hours

• Teenaged boys: 8+ hours• 8-year-old girls: just 3.5 hours• Multi-screening increasingly common• 50% watch videos or use social

media while doing homework

A Timeline of Mobile Use

The Rise of the Selfie• Term created by Australian in 2002• Concept entered mainstream following

introduction of smartphone in 2007• As of December 2015:• 93 million selfies taken daily• Among 18-24 yos, 30% of photos are selfies• 95% of teens have taken a selfie

• High Risk and Wildly Inappropriate Selfies• Worst Homework Assignment Ever?

The Dilemma of Nude Selfies

• Technology & Nudity: An Old Story

• Reversal of Law Enforcement Gains• Possible Connection to

Psychological Harm and Abuse• Risk of Electronic Sexual Assault or

Sextortion• Younger and Younger

Defining “Body Image”• A person’s mental image of his

or her body, or the perception of his or her body in a mirror or other image

• Affected by numerous factors: family, friends, media, gender, weight, height, etc.

• Can lead to Body Dysmorphic Disorder, anorexia, bulimia, etc.

The Legend of Narcissus

Defining Narcissism• “Excessive or erotic interest

in oneself and one's physical appearance”

• “Inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity”

• Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Defining Empathy• “The ability to understand and

share the feelings of another”• A particularly complex

psychological state• The capacity for empathy is

innate but must be developed• Deficit of empathy can be

characterized as psychopathy

Psychological Trends• Empathy is steadily declining

among college students, while narcissism is steadily rising

• Possible factors:• Technology and screen time• Distracted parents• Decline in reading

• Consequences for Society??

The Curated Life• Teens surprisingly savvy about social

media in general and profiles in particular

• Photos deleted if they do not generate enough likes

• More than a third of selfies “enhanced” before posting

• Numerous apps to automate process:• Airbrush, RetouchMe, FaceTune, YouCam

Perfect, Perfect365

Unhealthy Obsession• Insecurity / Lack of Confidence• Self-Objectification / Obsession• Addiction• Damaged Friendships• Body dysmorphic disorder• Depression• Suicidal ideation / Attempted

suicide

Pursuit of Perfection• The pursuit of “natural filters” – disturbing

rise in body modification• 2017 Survey of American Academy of

Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—• 99% of doctors agreed that celebrities and

social media are driving surgery requests• Patients are getting steadily younger• More men are seeking procedures

• DIY Modification: Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge

Reducing Narcissism• Set Boundaries• Encourage Good Manners• Encourage Boredom• Model Non-Narcissistic

Behaviors• Reduce Screen Time• Self-Esteem, Not Narcissism

Increasing Empathy• Parental Interaction• Reduced Screen Time for

Everyone• Reading, Reading, Reading• Model Empathic Behavior• Talk about the Feelings of Others• Volunteer Opportunities, Pets,

Plants

Selfie-Absorbed

Frederick S. LaneAlaska Society for Technology in

EducationAnchorage, AK

20 February 2017

Body Image, Narcissism, and Empathy in the Smartphone Era