# Is your Facebook profile picture a current photo of you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 23, 2010, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517 "2010-05-23T23:06:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/61 "2010-05-24T14:21:09Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > Facebook? Why is anyone on it? Because I find it’s the easiest way to communicate with my cousins and uncles and aunts in India? I can’t afford the long-distance charges. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/62 "2010-05-24T14:24:02Z")
My profile picture isn’t my face (it’s one of my guitars at the moment) but there are recent pics of my face that are available for viewing in the “see pictures of Shakester” section if anyone wants to see what I actually look like. I changed to a not-me pic because I got sick of looking at the pic of me that I used to use. I’ll probably change back to a pic of me when I get sick of the pic I’m using now. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/63 "2010-05-24T14:38:27Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > I think there are two primary reasons why people do not put a current picture of themselves as their profile pic on facebook. > > 1. They are concerned about internet privacy issues and don’t put any pictures of themselves on the web, or… > > 2. They are insecure about their current appearance and don’t want people from their past to see what they look like now. Doesn’t explain the vast number of people (mostly women, in my experience) who put a photo of their kid as their profile pic. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/64 "2010-05-24T15:21:17Z")
> [@as\_u\_wish](#): > > I don’t have any pictures of just me that are more recent than 30 years–they’re all family shots. It seems a little vain to have one taken just for my profile. There are plenty of pictures of me in photo albums if someone is curious. It’s not vain. Just turn your cell phone around and take a picture. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/65 "2010-05-24T15:24:05Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > I think there are two primary reasons why people do not put a current picture of themselves as their profile pic on facebook. > > 1. They are concerned about internet privacy issues and don’t put any pictures of themselves on the web, or… > > 2. They are insecure about their current appearance and don’t want people from their past to see what they look like now. I would agree with this, except my post would have only have listed point #2. Yes I’m sure there are people who don’t post because of point #1… by IME #2 is the reason of the people I know. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/66 "2010-05-24T15:30:03Z")
Currently mine shows me looking very bored at work, taken a week or so ago. Before that it was a picture of me holding up a large closeup picture of a basset hound, making me look like I had a dog head. Previous pictures have been holiday photos, a snowman version of me (last winter) and a closeup of my screaming mouth. Whatever mood I’m in at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/67 "2010-05-24T15:32:53Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > I would agree with this, except my post would have only have listed point #2. > Yes I’m sure there are people who don’t post because of point #1… by IME #2 is the reason of the people I know. If Internet security is \*that \*much of an issue, Facebook may not be the best place for them to be. ---
**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/68 "2010-05-24T17:31:51Z")
It’s the same picture I use for all my profile pictures. It is from 2008, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/69 "2010-05-24T19:04:00Z")
Mine’s also the same as I use for all my profile pictures (I have it in my profile here). It’s B&W and my dog is in the shot too. But it’s a great picture of my face, and my dog is part of me anyway so it works just fine. It’s from 2007. One of the Dopers I’m friends with has a picture of duck confit as her profile pic and it’s starting to ruin my appetite. It’s a roll of meat! lol I hope she comes in and confesses 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/70 "2010-05-24T19:06:14Z")
Once again no poll option fits me. My face is there, but I’m in the distance. Not much detail. ---
**Author:** ![PsyXe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@PsyXe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PsyXe)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/71 "2010-05-24T19:18:41Z")
I was all prepared to vote for non-current picture, but I find I’m still current after all! My profile picture is 4 years old and I keep it up because it’s me with my dog as a tiny puppy, which is too adorable to replace with anything else. ---
**Author:** ![RedBloom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dbc845/32.png) [@RedBloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedBloom)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/72 "2010-05-24T19:51:20Z")
I change my profile pic often, but it’s NEVER of myself. It’s usually a bird or something inanimate. I despise seeing pictures of myself, especially smiling… it triggers some violent reaction in me! ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/73 "2010-05-24T20:27:45Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > I think there are two primary reasons why people do not put a current picture of themselves as their profile pic on facebook. > > 1. They are concerned about internet privacy issues and don’t put any pictures of themselves on the web, or… > > 2. They are insecure about their current appearance and don’t want people from their past to see what they look like now. 1. There are a million other more interesting/amusing things to use as profile pics that can communicate more about a person than a mere portrait. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/74 "2010-05-24T20:40:55Z")
I don’t use a pic of myself, for reasons that fall under both of **Wilbo523** ’s rationales. Instead, I use a version of [this print](http://www.globalgallery.com/enlarge/26028/), which is quite possibly one of the most heartachingly cute cat photos I’ve seen. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/75 "2010-05-24T20:48:01Z")
My current facebook photo is a head shot, and less than a year old. However, it was taken with no flash, in a dimly-lit room, and I’m wearing a glow-necklace around my head (right under my nose). So I’m not exactly recognizable. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/76 "2010-05-24T20:53:10Z")
It’s a cartoon avatar that looks a little like me. I enjoy changing its looks, clothing, and background. I can be a cowgirl one day and a pirate wench the next. ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/77 "2010-05-24T21:25:17Z")
Mine was taken last week, at the beach with Mr. Levins. The only time my FB pic isn’t of me is when I take a particularly good picture of one of my catsharks. In which case they get prime time for a little while. I enjoy compliments about my handsome catsharks. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/78 "2010-05-24T21:43:55Z")
Mine is of me. It usually is. Once it as a picture of the young Queen Mother, for doppelganger week, but when I mentioned this to my friends they had apparently not realised it wasn’t me. Some of my friends don’t put a picture of themselves as their profile pic for insecurity reasons or because they have a different picture they feel is funnier and/or more ‘them.’ Occasionally I do that too - a lolcat, a painting, whatever. Security/privacy isn’t the reason, though, because there’s always the option to make your picture not viewable to anyone but your friends. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/79 "2010-05-24T22:19:18Z")
Mine is a picture of my smoking a cigar and drinking a beer on a hotel balcony in Australia from a vacation 3 years ago but you really can’t make out my face very well. It there because it was a good trip and I haven’t taken any cooler pictures since. ---
**Author:** ![Rahne\_McCloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@Rahne\_McCloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rahne_McCloud)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517/80 "2010-05-25T03:39:13Z")
Mine is my baby picture, I had a current pix of me but I recieved some interesting offers from several people that I didn’t want.:eek: I then changed my privacy settings before all of the hullaballoo, so that only my friends can contact me.😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-facebook-profile-picture-a-current-photo-of-you/540517.md?page=5)