Face masks modulate non-verbal communication in selfies, but do not affect beauty ratings

Abstract

Widespread use of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic has stimulated interest in their effect on interpersonal communication. We asked whether face masks modulate posing during selfie-taking and whether they affect the attractiveness of the poser. We collected a dataset of selfie pairs (one with and one without the mask) from a population of university community members. Results replicated well-known posing biases in selfies, including a preference for displaying the left cheek and a sex-related difference in facial prominence. However, these biases were modulated by face masks, which caused a marked increase of frontal poses in comparison to three-quarter poses (for both left- and right-cheek face rotations), and a weaker but still significant increase in facial prominence of both male and female takers. In contrast, beauty ratings did not differ between mask and no-mask selfies by the same individuals. These results support models of selfies as means of non-verbal communication, whereas do not support recent reports that face masks enhance facial beauty. (word count = 170)