A profile picture is the first impression someone gets of an online profile, found on social networking sites, dating sites, and more. People put effort into their picture, but it can be anything, even a logo. Profile pictures can be used in other aspects, but may not be accurate and can be used for cyberbullying.
A profile picture is the featured image of the subject of an online profile. If you’ve ever visited a social networking site like MySpace or Facebook, searched for a friend, and seen that very first picture appear in the top left or top right corner of the web page, then you’ve seen an online profile picture. . Profile pictures aren’t limited to social networking sites, although they can be found anywhere a profile can be found, including some chat rooms, dating sites, online encyclopedias, news sites, and online games.
A profile picture is very important. When someone looks at an online profile, that picture is usually the first impression they get of the subject. Just like in real life, if the first impression is positive, the rest of the profile will generally be perceived more favorably; if it is negative, the contents of the profile will tend to be discounted. Because of this, many people put a lot of effort into their profile picture. They can use a picture of themselves doing an activity they love, being with someone they love, or attending an important event. Other people just want to look good and may even use professionally done headshots to appear more attractive.
A profile picture doesn’t have to be a profile subject picture; it can be anything. To maintain anonymity in the real world, some people leave their profile picture blank and only allow trusted people to see their real photos. Other people feel that an artwork or cartoon character portrays them more accurately than a photograph, so they use it. Some even use logos or icons to show their support for something like a favorite sports team or favorite brand.
Profile pictures are sometimes used in more aspects than just a profile. If your profile is linked to an online bulletin board, your profile picture may appear as part of every message you post. Similarly, a chat room linked to an online profile may display a smaller version of the profile picture whenever the person communicates with the room.
It’s important to realize that your profile picture may not be an accurate representation of your profile subject. Some people try to enhance the look by using old photos or images that have been digitally manipulated to remove an unwanted flaw. Others create fake identities online using a profile picture that isn’t theirs at all, perhaps even of a different age, race, or gender than they are in real life. Some people will even use profile pictures to “cyberbully” others, either by creating fake profiles that portray their subjects negatively or by using an extremely negative image of the person being bullied.
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