Instagram photos that include faces are far more likely to get likes from followers than those without, a new study suggests.
According to a report conducted at Georgia Tech, people are more drawn to photos that feature the face. In fact, of 1.1 million randomly-selected Instagram photos analyzed with face detection software, those with faces were 38% more likely to get Likes and 32% more likely to get comments.
“We are naturally attracted to faces,” researcher Saeideh Bakhshi of Georgia Tech told Mashable. “We are social animals and want to see other people — it’s comforting to us and makes us safe. This is engrained in us at a very early age, when babies are looking for the support of their parents.”
“We didn’t think online engagement would necessarily translate to this instinct, but it does make sense — it’s a part of human nature,” she added.
What’s interesting about the findings is that the amount of faces in the photo, age or gender didn’t influence engagement levels. In addition, male users are just as likely to get comments and likes than female Instagram users.
And although it makes sense that those with more followers received more interaction on the platform, those who post too frequently see a dip in engagement. The more you upload, the less likes and comments you get.
“The more Instagram pictures you post, the more people lose interest,” Bakhshi said.
The takeaway? Your Instagram followers actually like your selfies. Just don’t post one every day.
Source: Mashable