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Love them or hate them, selfies are making a return and making a difference in the world

At a time where vaccine misinformation and hesitancy are at an all-time high. ‘Vaccine selfies’ or ‘Vaxxies’ are helping to restore faith in science and encourage others to get the jab. Social media platforms are flooding with vaccine selfies from celebs, royals and people all over the world.

‘Vaxxies’ restore confidence in the vaccine

The good old traditional selfie can get some negative feedback normally. Yet, these selfies are different, they’re not referencing your outfit of the day or your smashed avo at breakfast. ‘Vaxxie’ selfies are people sharing proof of their Covid-19 vaccination, to create solidarity.

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media outlets are filling with people’s images, post-jab. The purpose of the vaccine selfie is to create confidence and shift the stigmas and uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 shot.

Billionaire Richard Branson documenting his vaccine shot. 

https://twitter.com/ProfRetail/status/1419842481789693956?s=20

Group mentality

As with any social movement, you’re either for or against. By posting on social media signifies your stance on the topic. A ‘vaxxie’ signifies you’re pro-vax. According to Professor Gary Mortimer, this group mentality represents, you’re either with us or against us.

“It’s classic in-group-out-group behaviour.”

The social identity theory explains the psychology behind this concept. This theory states internal cohesion and loyalty to the in-group exists when the group members maintain a state of almost hostility or assertive opposition toward out-groups. Interestingly, the out-groups are often perceived as inferior.

A vaccine selfie may encourage friends and family to be in the same ‘in-group.’ Professor Mortimer says we have been seeing this behaviour for years at sporting events.

Risks of posting a vaccine selfie

Social media posts about controversial topics usually cop some negative feedback. A ‘Vaxxie’ post is likely to alienate you from others, who do not follow your views. According to Professor Gary Mortimer, from the Queensland University of Technology, people can try to share a post that makes them feel morally “good” or woke.

There’s a fine line between encouraging others to engage in behaviour and coming across as pushy or superior.

In addition, another area for concern is brands seeing vaccine selfies as an opportunity for marketing. Which could encourage people to get a certain brand, that isn’t medically best suited for them, just because they were ‘influenced’ by a ‘vaxxie’.

However, in a bid to boost the vaccine rollout and eliminate hesitancy, vaccine selfies won’t be the only solution but will likely play some kind of positive role in the foreseeable future.