TY - JOUR
T1 - Instagram user characteristics and the color of their photos
T2 - Colorfulness, color diversity, and color harmony
AU - Kim, Jang Hyun
AU - Kim, Yunhwan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2019/7
Y1 - 2019/7
N2 - This study aims to explore the relationships between Instagram user characteristics and color features of their photos. Based on the assumption that individuals who are similar in characteristics would exhibit a similar style in their social media photos, this study pays attention to color as one of the key elements of style. An online survey to 179 university students measured their Big Five personality traits, narcissism, life satisfaction, loneliness, attitude to Instagram, and gender, and their Instagram photos were analyzed in terms of colorfulness, color diversity, and color harmony. Total 25,394 photos were analyzed. Results suggest that (1) agreeableness was the most relevant user variable associated with all color features; (2) the color features of Instagram photos were different by gender; (3) neuroticism of Instagram users was negatively associated with the color harmony of their photos; (4) color diversity was negatively correlated with loneliness, and romantic loneliness in particular; (5) users’ attitude to Instagram and the color harmony of their photos were positively correlated; and (6) extraversion of Instagram users was positively correlated with the color diversity while openness was negatively correlated with the color diversity and color harmony of their photos. They reveal that the color features of Instagram photos are linked to the characteristics of their uploader. The present study contributes to the body of research on color preference and online self-presentation. It not only exemplifies how the stylometric approach can be adopted to SNS research but also presents the link between user characteristics and the features of their posts at pixel-level, including color.
AB - This study aims to explore the relationships between Instagram user characteristics and color features of their photos. Based on the assumption that individuals who are similar in characteristics would exhibit a similar style in their social media photos, this study pays attention to color as one of the key elements of style. An online survey to 179 university students measured their Big Five personality traits, narcissism, life satisfaction, loneliness, attitude to Instagram, and gender, and their Instagram photos were analyzed in terms of colorfulness, color diversity, and color harmony. Total 25,394 photos were analyzed. Results suggest that (1) agreeableness was the most relevant user variable associated with all color features; (2) the color features of Instagram photos were different by gender; (3) neuroticism of Instagram users was negatively associated with the color harmony of their photos; (4) color diversity was negatively correlated with loneliness, and romantic loneliness in particular; (5) users’ attitude to Instagram and the color harmony of their photos were positively correlated; and (6) extraversion of Instagram users was positively correlated with the color diversity while openness was negatively correlated with the color diversity and color harmony of their photos. They reveal that the color features of Instagram photos are linked to the characteristics of their uploader. The present study contributes to the body of research on color preference and online self-presentation. It not only exemplifies how the stylometric approach can be adopted to SNS research but also presents the link between user characteristics and the features of their posts at pixel-level, including color.
KW - Color psychology
KW - Instagram
KW - Photo
KW - Pixel
KW - Social media
KW - Stylometry
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85055526291
U2 - 10.1016/j.ipm.2018.10.018
DO - 10.1016/j.ipm.2018.10.018
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85055526291
SN - 0306-4573
VL - 56
SP - 1494
EP - 1505
JO - Information Processing and Management
JF - Information Processing and Management
IS - 4
ER -