Selfie narratives made by young people

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the phenomenon of selfies on social networks, identifying the meanings produced by young people about their selfies and seeking to expand the understanding about this type of photography. Structured interviews were conducted with 15 college students between 18 and 28 years old that were analyzed through “applied psychoanalysis”. The participants chose personal selfies and justified their publication on social networks. The interviews pointed to multiple meanings interacting with each other. Five narrative categories were created to reflect on the elements that appeared privileged in the interviewees’ speech. The results showed aspects little or not discussed in the literature on the subject, revealing the plurality of meanings that exist in selfies. Thus, this study broadens the interpretation about the use that young people make of social networks and contributes with new insights to the work on this theme in contemporary clinical practice.