What your WhatsApp Display Picture say about you? || Display Picture Psychology

Your DP acts as a non-verbal communication to the world. We can tell a lot about what a person is "going through" through their WhatsApp display picture.

Why WhatsApp of all Apps?

I chose to focus on WhatsApp DP because we communicate with everyone all over the world on WhatsApp.

Imagine a day when WhatsApp stops working for 1 hour?!

How troubled and stuck will we all feel?

So, basically WhatsApp is our digital mouthpiece to the world;

and your digital mouthpiece demands to put a picture that represents you.

And the picture you choose is subliminal.

You can tell a lot about a person through their DP and the duration they keep each image for. Also how often they change their DP ;-)

Not everything I’ve written below will be valid for every single person but the psychology behind DP is the case in discussion.

Aim here to is to understand the hidden conversations we are having with each other and the rest of the world through our DPs ;-)

Let's understand each other and have fun with this read!

Types of DP-:

Face Close-up (Solo)

What it means to you: This is how I wish to look always.

What you want to portray to the world: See me at my best.

Undercurrent: I am kinda perfect :)

Full Body Solo (Physique Focussed)

What it means to you: I love the body I have, it is my source of confidence.

What you want to portray to the world: My physique is something I take pride on.

Undercurrent: I am hot!

Full Body Solo (Fashion Focussed)

What it means to you: I love dressing up!

What you want to portray to the world: I prefer being appreciated for the efforts I put in.

Undercurrent: Creative Expression.

Travel Solo

What it means to you: I am exploring the world.

What you want to portray to the world: See everyone, how much I’m exploring and living.

Undercurrent: I am NOT BORING, I AM COLLECTING EXPERIENCES!

Travel (Couple) Picture

What it means to you: My partner & I are exploring the world, see?

What you want to portray to the world: See everyone, how much we are exploring and living, we are #couplegoals

Undercurrent: We are different from most couples, we explore the world, we live…we have a life!

Travel (Family) Picture

What it means to you: This memory (image) makes the money we spent on this trip worth it.

What you want to portray to the world: As a family, we are investing in travel!

Undercurrent: We’re not your typical boring family!

Wedding Aesthetic Solo (Indian Clothes/Formal Suits)

What it means to you: I’m worth getting involved with, I’m ready for a relationship, I’m craving a relationship.

(If the person is married, then this image means they still want to remembered as a heartthrob).

What you want to portray to the world: I’m a keeper!

Undercurrent: Look at me, see me!

Blank DP

What it means to you: Cannot be bothered to prove anything to anyone (this is true if you never put a dp on whatsapp)

or

It can mean you’re not a fan of how you look.

What you want to portray to the world: I don’t care about you and how you perecive me

or

I don’t want to be judged on my looks.

Undercurrent: Detached

or

Ashamed-Awkward with one’s own self image.

No DP (when it is specifically removed)

What it means to you: I am suffering and I don’t want people to know

or

I am suffering and I want people to know which is why I have removed my DP so people notice & ask or at least think where am I missing.

What you want to portray to the world: Ask me how am I doing, care about me, see me.

Undercurrent: I need attention & care.

DP with a partner

What it means to you: Finally, I am now complete.

What you want to portray to the world: My partnership means the world to me, we are one unit, he/she is mine and I've found my forever person.

Undercurrent: I've hit my milestone and now I'm sorted!

Dp with partner & kids

What it means to you: This can mean 2 things.

1) Either you are proving to someone (from the past/present) that you are now complete and have a world of your own.

or

2) These are the most important people of your life and that's about it.

What you want to portray to the world: That I'm a family man/woman.

or

I am well aware of my priorities; whatever I do, I do for them.

Undercurrent: I demand and command respect because I am well within the milestones of the society.

DP with your child

What it means to you: Again, this can mean two things

1) Parenthood means the most to you, you are now defining yourself with it

or

2) Your life is not about you anymore, it circles around your child.

(This also at times means that you are losing your individual sense of self)

What you want to portray to the world: See, how much this child means to me...he/she should mean a lot to you too. I want my child to be seen, loved and understood. I am creating space for my child.

Undercurrent: This child is my biggest achievement!

DP of your child (solo picture of your kid)

What it means to you: This can mean any of these

1) You no longer care about you- who you are and what you stand for.

or

2) You don't feel good (smart/attractive/cool, etc.) enough to put your own picture up

or

3) You command the world notices your kid.

What you want to portray to the world: LOOK AT MY CHILD. HE/SHE NEEDS TO BE SEEN, LOVED, ACKNOWLEDGED.

Undercurrent: I want my kid to have evrything way better than me.

DP of you with someone else’s kid (neice/nephew,etc.)

What it means to you: How loving, caring and nurturing you are and how ready you feel for the next chapters of life.

What you want to portray to the world: I am marriage material.

Undercurrent: Notice me and notice what all I can bring to the table.

DP with your whole family (present family)

What it means to you: My family is my world, I am what I am because of them!

What you want to portray to the world: My family is my biggest strength.

Undercurrent: Your family is your biggest support system (this can be mental/physical/emotional/financial).

DP with your childhood picture (solo)

What it means to you: Love and compassion you feel towards your inner child/childhood self.

What you want to portray to the world: See me as you are seeing that innocent child, I am pure and innocent.

Undercurrent: Inner child healing/introspection.

DP with your childhood family photograph

What it means to you: You miss those simpler days or

You are seeking love and nurturing from parents or

You want to be loved the way your parents loved you or

You miss those carefree days.

What you want to portray to the world: This is my story.

Undercurrent: You miss those simpler times (perhaps unhappy or not entirely content with your present).

DP of you dancing

What it means to you: A (happy or) proud moment where you felt seen.

What you want to portray to the world: I am fun loving or

I am proud of my dancing skills or

I want to be seen.

Undercurrent: I can have fun or

I am talented.

DP of you on stage

What it means to you: Glorious moment when all eyes were on you.

What you want to portray to the world: I am worthy of limelight.

Undercurrent: I am capable of being put on a pedestal or

I want to be perceived as someone important or

I have important things to say too or

I want to be seen and heard.

Quotes as DP

What it means to you: quote serves as a reminder to self.

What you want to portray to the world: trying to send a message.

Undercurrent:let me communicate how I feel via this crisp quote.

People resort to quotes as dp when they are trying to send a message across or showcase to the world what they stand for.

For Example-

or

If any the above is my DP, it means I am telling the world that I am tired of being misunderstood so it’s not on me now, it’s on you.

If the above is my DP, it means I am telling the world that I’ve missed out on someting and I am holding onto the faith that something bigger and better is coming.

If the above is my dp, then I am trying to plant seeds and convey a message but I haven't been successful so this quote motivates me to keep going.

Work/Company Logo as DP

What it means to you: You cannot or don't want to separate yourself from your work.

What you want to portray to the world: I love my business and I am ready to take on more work and make money.

Undercurrent: Money and business fuels your sense of self.

Duration of a DP

How often a person changes their dp will tell you the frequency of events happening in their life/phases they are going through. Those who change their dp time and again are trying to get someone's attention.

Those who put up a picture and "forget about it"/barely ever change are the ones who like to keep things discreet; they don't like people knowing even unnecessary things about their life.

This article was inspired by the changing DPs I observed on my WhatsApp. I love how the human mind works and I'm obsessed with human psychology. Not everything written here will stand true for every single person but it most certainly will resonate in many cases.

Love,

Sia