Association of Self-Presentational Strategies on Facebook and Positive Feedback in Adolescence – A Two-Study Approach

Abstract

As Facebook enables adolescents to present themselves positively by means of their Facebook profile and to gain positive feedback for doing so, the aim of the current study is to investigate which kinds of adolescents’ positive self-presentation in profile pictures and status updates are associated with positive feedback in terms of Likes from the Facebook community, considering gender differences. Data for this study were based on adolescents aged 14–17 years, pursuing a two-method approach, using questionnaire data (N = 703; 71.7% female; Mage = 15.76 years) as well as data from content analysis (N = 143; 63% female; Mage = 15.72 years). Hierarchical multiple regressions were used. The results suggest that the self-presentational strategy of ingratiation seems to be the most advantageous in eliciting positive feedback. In particular, presenting oneself in the company of friends as well as posting about spending time with friends were related to positive feedback.