THE "TUMBLR SEXYMAN" INTERNET PHENOMENON AND ITS INFLUENCE ON PERCEIVED ATTRACTIVE TRAITS AMONG LATE ADOLESCENTS
by Reina Elysse Benoza
Category: Social Science
Abstract – This paper examines the influence of internet phenomena, such as the Tumblr Sexyman, can have on traits found attractive by adolescents. There is a lack of documentation on how attraction and its influences work within adolescents when it can be used for authentic engagement by brands and the dismantlement of common stigmas about attraction Using interviewing and content analysis, results suggest that the Tumblr Sexyman phenomena did not significantly impact traits considered attractive by most late adolescents. Additionally, there may be slight differences in attraction towards fictional characters versus real people in late adolescence through mechanisms such as identity projection.