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23rd May 2016

People who take regular selfies aren’t as hot as they think they are, claims new study

Why the selfie hate?

Carl Anka

There’s a member of the JOE team that takes around 20 photos to nail that perfect selfie.

Lighting, angles, facial expression – to our unnamed selfie loving poser, there is no situation not worth a selfie.

New shirt? Selfie.

At the club? Selfie?

Ended up in hospital after hurting your hand? He just swaps paws and takes another selfie. 

Unfortunately for this fellow, a new scientific study is claiming that regular selfie takers think they are a lot more attractive than how the world around them thinks.

via GIPHY

Researchers at Toronto University looked to compare ratings of selfies from the people who took them and from outsiders. They also asked everyone what they thought of other photos of the same people that they didn’t take themselves.

It looked that people who took the selfies felt they were hotter in the photos they took of themselves. Which you’d expect, considering they would have an idea of their best angles and lighting to show off their “good sides”.

However, it seemed like the outsiders thought people looked better and seemed more likeable in photos that other people took. A bit like your mum saying you look better “when you’re not pulling that silly duck face”.

via GIPHY

“Selfie-takers generally overperceived the positive attributes purveyed by their selfies,” said researchers.

“Here, we found that selfie-takers believed their selfies to look more attractive and likable than photos of them taken by other people. In reality, though, external raters actually perceived the targets’ selfies to look less attractive and less likable than the photos taken by others (as well as more narcissistic).

“This self-favoring bias did not extend to non-selfie-takers.”

This isn’t the first time a study has slammed those who love a good selfie. We’ve previously reported that Florida State University academics claim addiction to selfies is a sign of insecurity and bad for your love life. Stranger still, last year 12 people lost their lives due to selfie-related accidents such as falling from great heights.

What does JOE resident selfie fan think of the news? “Pfft… another bitter study from selfie haters”, he says, before recommending you this guide to help men take better selfies. He really can’t be helped.

Selfie fan? Send in your funniest snaps to hello@JOE.co.uk, or drop us a message on Facebook.

Topics:

Selfie