This article was taken from the May 2013 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by <span class="s1">subscribing online.
Looking good online is more than just knowing your angles. Edson Tandoc and his colleagues at the Missouri School of Journalism led a study on attractiveness in Facebook profiles and found that what a person included in a profile photo (besides themselves) influenced strangers' opinions of that person.
Show what you're into
"We found that including more social cues in one's profile photo increases ratings of attractiveness," says Tandoc. Social cues hint at who you really are -- a keen athlete's picture could show her playing sport; a musician's could include a musical instrument. "Additional clues enable perceivers to feel they can make reliable judgements about the person," he explains.
Keep it real
Don't pretend you're something you're not. Tandoc warns that any attempt to deceive will inevitably be discovered through unintentional cues on the rest of your profile, and no one likes a liar. If you're complaining about your overdraft in your updates, people will suspect that picture of you with a flashy sports car. "The cliché of being yourself can still be appropriate advice."
Play the popularity game
People will trust what others say about you more than your own image. A lot of positive posts from friends that are consistent with the impression that you're trying to give will make you appear more attractive. "Being active in exchanging messages and comments on Facebook can make this engagement flow naturally and can result in consistent other-generated comments," Tandoc advises.
Keep an eye on your friends
Unfavourable remarks from others can undo all your hard work -- even if they are meant to be silly or sarcastic. "If wall comments are negative, participants evaluate profile owners as less socially attractive," says Tandoc. Monitor interactions on your profile and be proactive in curating your page. Stay in control by using the "delete post" and "de-tag" functions wisely.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
