By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
New study asks, 'What kind of selfie taker are you?'
ee7a4f33299ac7ca8427b399ae2950584f75b511aa236bd65167f65ae4de255a
A new study published in Visual Communication Quarterly found that there is more than one way to take a selfie. - photo by Herb Scribner
Theres more than one way to take a selfie, and more than one reason to do it, too.

A new study done by five student researchers at Brigham Young University found that peoples motives for taking selfies are more than just related to narcissism and expression of wealth.

In fact, BYU researchers discovered three main reasons people take selfies: communication, autobiographical expression and self-publicizing.

Those three reasons for selfies have their own characteristics. For example, communicators tend to take selfies for the sake of sharing information with the family and friends.

Theyre all about two-way communication, said current student Maureen Mo Elinzano, one of the researchers in the study.

Meanwhile, autobiographers snap selfies to show off true events that happen in life. These photographers want people to see their photos, but dont really care about feedback.

And self-publicists, which make up the least amount of selfies takers, are people who show off their life and hope to present a positive brand.

These selfie takers are the people who love documenting their entire lives, said co-author Harper Anderson, according to BYU. And in documenting and sharing their lives, theyre hoping to present themselves and their stories in a positive light.

The researchers said that this identification is important because it shows how different people go about sharing their life story on social media.

its a different kind of photography than weve ever experienced before, Holiday said, according to a press release. I can go on Facebook or Instagram and see that people have a desire to participate in a conversation. Its an opportunity for them to express themselves and get some kind of return on that expression.

Selfies have previously been linked to be indicators of specific traits. According to The Huffington Post, a 2015 study from the Ohio State University found that men who post photos of themselves tend to be more narcissistic and psychopathic.

Researchers surveyed 800 men about their photo habits on social media. They found a correlation between those who post a lot of selfies and higher levels of narcissism.

The studys lead author Jesse Fox said in a statement this isnt surprising given the impulsive nature of social media photography.

Its not surprising that men who post a lot of selfies and spend more time editing them are more narcissistic, but this is the first time it has actually been confirmed in a study, Fox said in a statement, adding, That makes sense because psychopathy is characterized by impulsivity. They are going to snap the photos and put them online right away. They want to see themselves. They dont want to spend time editing.

Fox said more research should be done to figure out how selfies affect one's personality.

We are all concerned with our self-presentation online, but how we do that may reveal something about our personality.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
93cbd7a5475cccd1cee701424125d3abaa9b4beaa58d3663208f656cbbbd7661
A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.