Short answer

Be mindful that the camera angle used in image capture significantly influences the perceived body shape, with higher angles (like selfies) creating an illusion of slimness, which can impact user self-perception and engagement with visual content.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: PLoS ONE (2023)
Method: Experimental study
Sample: 272 participants
Evidence: Moderate effect

Images captured from a higher camera angle, typical of selfies, are perceived as depicting slimmer bodies compared to those taken from other perspectives. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in PLoS ONE. Using Experimental study with 272 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Be mindful that the camera angle used in image capture significantly influences the perceived body shape, with higher angles (like selfies) creating an illusion of slimness, which can impact user self-perception and engagement with visual content.

Study

User-Centred DesignRecentModerate effect

Selfie camera angles can create a perception of slimmer body image

Images captured from a higher camera angle, typical of selfies, are perceived as depicting slimmer bodies compared to those taken from other perspectives.

PLoS ONE · 2023

Key Findings

01Selfies were consistently judged as depicting slimmer bodies.
02Egocentric (selfie) images were rated as less attractive than images from other perspectives.
03Perceptions of bodies from different angles were linked to participants' disordered eating thoughts and behaviours.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing user interfaces for photo sharing or editing, consider offering guidance or options for camera angles that promote a more balanced or realistic body image perception, or be aware of how default settings might inadvertently reinforce certain aesthetic ideals.

Project actions

01When researching user interaction with visual media, consider how the framing and perspective of images might influence user perception and behaviour.
02Explore how digital tools can be designed to either enhance or mitigate common visual illusions related to body image.

Method & Evidence

AimTo investigate how different viewing angles in images, specifically selfies versus traditional photographic perspectives, affect aesthetic and weight judgments of women's bodies, and to explore the relationship with disordered eating thoughts.

MethodExperimental study

ProcedureFour experiments were conducted where participants judged images of women's bodies taken from various angles, including selfie-style (high angle) and other perspectives. Judgments focused on attractiveness and perceived body weight. The study also assessed participants' disordered eating thoughts and behaviours.

Sample272 participants

ContextSocial media image perception and body image psychology

Variables

IVViewing angle of the image (e.g., selfie angle vs. other angles)

DVJudgments of body weight (slimmer/heavier) and attractiveness

CVThe body being photographed, the specific content of the image (beyond angle), participant demographics (potentially)

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Investigates a novel aspect of image perception (selfie angles).
+Connects visual perception to psychological factors (disordered eating).

Limitations

The study's findings are specific to images of women and may not apply universally. The link to disordered eating is complex and requires careful interpretation.

Reliability & validity

The use of multiple experiments and a reasonable sample size contributes to reliability. Validity is supported by measuring both perceptual judgments and psychological correlates.

Think critically

Given that selfie angles can create an illusion of slimness, how might designers of health and wellness applications or platforms ethically leverage or counteract this effect to promote healthier body image perceptions?

Design Principles

"Visual framing and perspective can manipulate perceived physical attributes, influencing user interpretation and emotional response."

This finding is crucial for designers creating digital interfaces and content creation tools, particularly those involving user-generated imagery. Understanding how camera angles influence perception allows for more informed design choices that can either leverage or mitigate these effects, impacting user satisfaction and self-perception.

What This Means for Your Design

Taking pictures of yourself from a higher angle (like most selfies) makes you look thinner, but people might not find those pictures as nice to look at. How you see these pictures can also be linked to how you feel about food and your body.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the psychological impact of visual design choices in your design project, particularly concerning user perception of self and others.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

Research indicates that the viewing angle of an image significantly impacts aesthetic and weight judgments. Specifically, selfie-style angles (higher camera perspective) are perceived to make bodies appear slimmer, although these images may be rated as less attractive overall. This phenomenon has implications for digital design, as it highlights how visual framing can influence user perception and potentially affect self-esteem and body image.

Source

PLoS ONE

Do selfies make women look slimmer? The effect of viewing angle on aesthetic and weight judgments of women’s bodies

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about selfie camera angles can create a perception of slimmer body image?: Be mindful that the camera angle used in image capture significantly influences the perceived body shape, with higher angles (like selfies) creating an illusion of slimness, which can impact user self-perception and engagement with visual content. Evidence: PLoS ONE (2023).
Why does "Selfie camera angles can create a perception of slimmer body image" matter for design?: This finding is crucial for designers creating digital interfaces and content creation tools, particularly those involving user-generated imagery. Understanding how camera angles influence perception allows for more informed design choices that can either leverage or mitigate these effects, impacting user satisfaction and self-perception.
How can designers apply this research?: Be mindful that the camera angle used in image capture significantly influences the perceived body shape, with higher angles (like selfies) creating an illusion of slimness, which can impact user self-perception and engagement with visual content.
What were the main findings?: Selfies were consistently judged as depicting slimmer bodies.. Egocentric (selfie) images were rated as less attractive than images from other perspectives.. Perceptions of bodies from different angles were linked to participants' disordered eating thoughts and behaviours.
What research method was used?: Experimental study with 272 participants.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from PLoS ONE.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing user interfaces for photo sharing or editing, consider offering guidance or options for camera angles that promote a more balanced or realistic body image perception, or be aware of how default settings might inadvertently reinforce certain aesthetic ideals.
What are the limitations?: The study focused on images of women's bodies and may not generalize to other demographics. The relationship with disordered eating is correlational and does not imply causation.