Self-Objectification and Video Chatting: Exploring Trends in College Women

In accordance with objectification theory and its established relationship with social media behaviors, video chatting may facilitate self-objectification in college women. Research demonstrates that behaviors of self-objectification can result in devastating implications such as depression, eating disorders, and disruption to social activism. This study investigated the behaviors of traditionally aged college women engaging in video chatting services and the potential practice of self-objectification. An online survey was distributed with measures including video chatting behaviors, self-objectification and self-surveillance, appearance comparison, and appearance satisfaction. Findings support the theory that video chatting/conferencing use is associated with self-objectification behaviors in college women. Significant levels of appearance comparison, prepping behaviors, negative self-image due to appearance, and self-surveillance behaviors were reported. Implications and future research are discussed.