In The Role of Friends’ Appearance and Behavior on Evaluations of Individuals on Facebook, Josh Walther and others propose the effects of getting to know someone through online sources such as Facebook. Onlookers tend to make quick judgements about the profile and the person behind the profile. The pictures posted on one's profile is seen as a direct reflection of who they are and their physical attractiveness. A photo taken with a more physically attractive person, or a post from a physically attractive person can then result in users believing that person is more attractive after the fact, this can also work visa versa. Another judgement that can possibly be made is the type of posts on a one's profile. If the posts are regularly positive, users tend to be predisposed to believe that person's life is put together, again this can be turned around.
Facebook users often believe they have complete control over their "self-image" on their page and how they want to disclose personal information. This may not be completely true, other users have a great influence on the user's "image". Therefore when using Facebook, the amount of information and what detail from other flooding in should be noted. Although, should we be worried about preconceived notions from people barely known to us? Before social networking, experience and face value was solely the source of judgement on a person. We cannot base people's character only on their profile that has been sifted through, posted on and made to perfection by the user, its simply not the true depiction of that person.
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