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

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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本研究旨在探析文化、人格与宗教这三维动态如何塑造了与社交网站（Social Networking Sites，SNS）上自拍（selfie）使用及自我呈现相关的3W与H要素，即是什么（What）、为何（Why）、何处（Where）与如何（How）。本研究采用定量研究法（描述性调查），而非自拍研究领域学者惯用的常规质性研究方法，对诸多变量展开分析，以揭示女大学生使用自拍行为背后此前未被充分关注的新颖潜因。本次研究共调查了乌约大学（University of Uyo）的370名女大学生，并在社交网站上组建了由350名学生组成的研究小组，以收集他们参与自拍行为的动因及由此获得的满意度相关看法。研究结果显示，女大学生发布自拍的驱动因素更多来自人格特质（59%）与宗教信仰倾向（14%），而非文化因素（5%）；同时发现，参与自拍的女大学生此举旨在进行自我呈现与自我实现。简言之，本研究认为，社交网站上的自拍行为并非受社会文化或国家层面因素驱动，而是源于学生的情绪状态、自我实现需求，以及在社交网站上塑造理想自我与形象的诉求。本研究最终得出结论：上述驱动因素与大众期望年轻人在社交网站互动中应秉持的社会经济及文化现实相脱节。欲获取更多研究成果，请访问www.afrischolarrepository.com.ng。