Chances are you spent a long time choosing your Facebook profile picture but why did you pick it?

An investigation into the psychology of profile pictures for the BBC Radio four So You Want to Be a Scientist? project discovered that distinct demographics display diverse pictures.

The investigation revealed that males had been 50 per cent a lot more likely to have altered their photo compared to women but had been 20 per cent much less likely to be smiling.

Men and women who showed themselves with their partner had a 35 per cent increased opportunity of smiling, whilst those under 30 were twice as likely to be shown at a party.

Dr Bernie Hogan, of Oxford University’s Internet Institute, told the BBC News: “Facebook is becoming one of the de facto techniques that we present ourselves to pals and family members.

“This photo has grow to be the new calling card, the 1st point of contact, so (it) is important for understanding what it is we want to show off to each other on the web.”

If you consistently check Facebook and regularly update your status then chances are you could have narcissistic tendencies.

That is the scientific opinion of researcher Soraya Mehdizadeh who asked 100 students aged between 18 and 25 about their Facebook habits and concluded that regular use of the social networking internet site can lead to narcissism.

Miss Mehdizadeh, of York University in Canada, admitted that the majority of men and women would disagree with her controversial findings.

She said: “I believe individuals get sort of defensive about it – like, ‘I don’t use my Facebook for that reason’ – simply because it is a label that you do not want to be slapped with.”

The study also discovered that men placed far more value on written profile entries, even though girls were more interested in which pictures appeared on their individual page.

Study by comScore revealed that Americans are spending more of their internet time socialising on Facebook than searching with Google.

Last month, Americans spent a total of 41.1 million minutes on Facebook compared to 39.8 million minutes with the search engine giant.

Individuals who regularly use social networking web sites are more likely to be happier than those who shun Facebook and Twitter.

A report by the Chartered Institute for IT, BCS entitled “The Details Dividend: Why IT makes you happier” argues that social networking websites have a positive impact on society.

The Social Network, the film about the rise of Facebook and its founder Mark Zuckerburg opens across UK cinema on October 15th.

Oxford University Online