Online first impressions: Person perception in social media profiles

Research suggests that people overestimate the importance of minimal social cues in online contexts. In new relationships, there is also a tendency to use minimal cues to fill in the gaps and assume people we like are similar to ourselves. Extending the literature on impression formation in computer-mediated communication, we investigated the content and extent of impressions formed about an online stranger with a limited profile, as well as the tendency to form gender-stereotypic impressions. Participants viewed either a male or female Facebook profile consisting of general information and an avatar for a photo. Then, in their own words, they described their impressions of the target and provided ratings for various attributes (e.g., likeability and similarity to themselves). Spontaneous descriptions were generally positive (the target was frequently described as educated, outgoing, fun, and agreeable), and gender role stereotypes were present (the male target was more frequently described as athletic, the female target was more frequently described as creative and friendly). The target was perceived to be quite similar and likeable to participants. Moreover, there was a tendency to rate the target more positively than negatively, especially for personality versus appearance. People who rated personality favorably tended to rate appearance favorably. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.