Expert reveals the phone lock screen which could mean that you're a self-absorbed 'narcissist'
Take US President Donald Trump, for example, who was lambasted last week for adorning his phone screen with a photograph of none other than himself.
Social media users spotted a golden opportunity to mock the president after the reveal when he alighted Air Force One last month.
It clearly showed an image of the POTUS himself from July 2019, pointing straight at the camera - or at himself whenever he looks at it.
Critics said it was evidence of Trump's 'narcissistic' personality, branding him as 'self-absorbed'.
But what does yours say about the persona you project to the outside world?
While they aren't necessarily accurate depictions of the device owner's personality, it's safe to say that, for most people, wallpapers serve as great place for snaps of loved ones, cherished pets, or anything that could put a positive spin on the day.
Holly Beedon, Clinical Lead from Living Well UK, told Femail that it can offer a 'subtle but revealing window into how we see ourselves, what we value, and where our attention naturally drifts'.
What we choose for our phone lock screen can sometimes reflect certain traits of our personality or life stage that we are in, says expert Holly Beedon. Stock image used
'While there's no definitive psychological diagnosis to be made from a single image, patterns and preferences can hint at our emotional priorities and unconscious self-messaging,' she continued.
If you, like Trump, have a selfie of yourself as your phone lock screen, you may be seen as 'somewhat self-centred', she continued - adding that, 'in some cases, this is true'.
'This kind of imagery could be tied to narcissistic traits – specifically the desire to admire one's own image, or curate a specific identity.'
However, she caveats that 'it's not always that simple'.
'Some people use a flattering photo of themselves during a period when they felt confident, motivated, or empowered – this almost serves a visual pep talk to oneself,' she added.
There are other, more practical reasons for why someone might choose a photo of themselves for their phone lock screen.
Doing so can make it easier to return a lost phone to its rightful owner, for example.
Holly continued: 'So, while self-image can certainly play a role, the intention behind the choice to make yourself your own lock screen matters just as much.'
Meanwhile, picking a photo of a partner to look at whenever your phone lights up 'often reflects emotional closeness and romantic focus', she explained.
'It can signal that the relationship is central to that person's life or that they find comfort and motivation in seeing their significant other daily. For some, it's a private way of reinforcing connection and intimacy in a busy or stressful life.'
This could be the reason behind Kylie Jenner's phone screen, which she revealed in 2023 had a snap of boyfriend Timothee Chalamet leaning in to kiss her cheek.
Some people choose to use photos of their family members, such as children or parents, and this usually represents 'strong emotional bonds and values rooted in caregiving, tradition, or identity'.
Mike Tindall demonstrated this in 2019 when he revealed an adorable family photo featuring his wife Zara Tindall and their daughter Mia, who was five at the time, on his phone screen while he was away in Japan.
Parents with multiple children tread in dangerous waters, though, if they display just one child on their lock screen.
It doesn't necessarily mean that the child who lights up the screen is their 'favourite', but that could be how others might perceive it, Holly warned.
'It might simply be the most recent photo taken, or one that captures a particularly proud moment,' she remarked.
'Still, if this is a consistent pattern, it could suggest a closer bond with one child, or that they identify more strongly with that particular relationship.'
Having a photo of friends on a lock screen can often indicate that the device owner is someone who 'thrives on social connection and values their chosen relationships deeply'.
How you come to the decision of who takes pride of place on your phone screen can be a surprisingly emotional decision, and having friends there could reflect 'a stage of life where friendships are the primary support system'.
As Britons become ever more pet-obsessed - with figures showing an estimated 60 per cent of UK households owning at least one pet - it's no surprise that our furry friends are a popular lock screen choice.
Having them on your phone can represent a strong emotional attachment, and could also mean your pet is a source of daily comfort.
'Pets often bring a calming or joyful energy to someone's day,' Holly continued.
'And having them on a lock screen can reflect that soothing or stabilising role.'
People and pets aside, some phone owners prefer to have images of nature or scenery, which might suggest a need for calm, inspiration, or escapism, the expert added.
'People who use these photos may value mindfulness, solitude, or feel most themselves when outdoors,' she explained.
'Sometimes, these photos serve as visual reminders to slow down or to mentally return to a peaceful place during the stress of daily life.'
Others yet have photos of seemingly random objects - but Holly says these are 'rarely random at all' and usually represent something meaningful to the person whose phone it is.
It could be anything from 'a goal, an aesthetic, a private joke, or a vision board of sorts'. Some people may even use their phone lock screen as a means of visualisation or manifestation, using it as 'daily cues to focus the mind and align behaviours with a goal'.
Finally, there's the phone owners who simply have a blank screen - although these people are increasingly few and far between.
If you do come across someone who has nothing at all on their phone background, it could be because they prefer minimalism, privacy, or to avoid distractions as much as possible.
'A blank lock screen might reflect a desire for digital simplicity, or a subtle resistance to the emotional pull of personal photos,' Holly suggested.
'For others, it's simply a way to protect mental space - deliberately not engaging with their phone on an emotional level.
'Ultimately, a lock screen isn't a psychological blueprint, you can't know somebody through such a small detail - but it can be a telling snapshot of what someone wants to see – how they want to feel - or be reminded of - multiple times a day.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
He was a hairstylist to Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra... but his legacy is tainted by murder
Anthony DiMaria was four years old, flipping through a family photo album on the living room sofa. Page after page, he admired smiling faces, vacations, birthdays - then he stopped. A striking black-and-white portrait stared up at him: his Uncle Jay. He was cool, composed and unmistakably alive. A wave of longing hit. He turned to his mother and asked, 'When can I see him again?' She froze. Her face drained of color. Then, softly, she said, 'Honey, you can't. He's in heaven.' What DiMaria didn't know then was that just months earlier, his uncle Jay Sebring had been murdered. He was one of seven people slaughtered by the Manson Family across two nights of terror in August 1969 - a rampage that became one of the most infamous crimes in American history. More than 50 years later, the horror of Sebring's fate still haunts DiMaria and his family. But what makes this time of year especially painful is not just the memory of what was lost, rather it is how the world chooses to remember it. A portrait of his Uncle Jay Sebring (left) stopped a young DiMaria cold when he was flicking through a photo album, age four Di Maria, seen in his mother's arms, was three when his uncle was killed. Sebring took this photo While the names and faces of the killers - and their ringleader, Charles Manson - have been immortalized in the public imagination, their crimes studied and dramatized in countless books, films and TV shows, the victims have too often been reduced to footnotes. 'Any time the dates come around, it's always difficult,' DiMaria told the Daily Mail. 'But it's made worse by how it's treated as entertainment. 'It's painful to see how our loved ones have become props in the retelling of their own slaughter. 'Meanwhile, the people who committed these horrific crimes are treated like rock star serial killers.' Sebring was just 35 when he was killed. But before his life was cut tragically short, he'd established himself as a pioneer in men's hairstyling. He opened one of the first upscale men's salons in LA and built a star-studded clientele, including Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Frank Sinatra, and Bruce Lee. His services were so in demand that he charged up to $50 a haircut - at a time when the average price was $1.50. He's credited with giving The Doors frontman Jim Morrison his iconic look, and became a celebrity in his own right, opening salons in New York and London. Sebring's influence helped transform male grooming into a luxury industry, the lasting impacts of which can still be felt today. Yet despite all he achieved, Sebring is mostly remembered for how he died. The brilliance of his life - and the scope of his accomplishments - have been overshadowed by the sensationalism of the Manson murders and the macabre fascination they still inspire, DiMaria says. Sebring was just 35 when he was killed. He had a star-studded list of clientele, including Paul Newman (seen above on the set of Moving Target) Sebring was once dating Sharon Tate (right). She left him for director Roman Polanski but the pair remained close Anthony DiMaria (above) told the Daily Mail what makes this time of year especially painful isn't just the memory of what was lost - it's how the world chooses to remember it In various accounts and retellings, DiMaria believes his uncle's character has been misrepresented - reduced to a whimpering caricature, and his final acts of courage erased from the record. As a child, DiMaria became obsessed with learning everything he could about Sebring. His mother rarely spoke of the murders, so he turned to books, old clippings and documentaries. He tried to take pride in his uncle's legacy, bragging to classmates about his success. But when he explained how Sebring died - when he mentioned Manson - the room often went quiet. When he was 12, DiMaria can remember being at a sleepover watching Saturday Night Live, when a sketch came on featuring Bill Murray, who was playing Sebring. DiMaria felt nauseous. Embarrassed. 'I just thought to myself, "My favorite TV show thinks my uncle's life and his murder is a joke,"' he said. In the years that followed, DiMaria found other portrayals just as demeaning - and completely at odds with the man described by family and friends. A Time magazine article, published after the murders, painted Jay as a troubled coward, a deviant, even hinting at racist views - accusations DiMaria says couldn't be further from the truth. Another damning portrayal, he says, came from Vincent Bugliosi's best-selling book Helter Skelter. Bugliosi, who prosecuted Manson, described Sebring as pretentious, unstable, and pitiful. Worse, DiMaria says, the book left out his uncle's final moments of heroism - details he'd only uncover years later through his own meticulous research. That realization came after DiMaria contacted the LA District Attorney's Office and requested access to the court testimony of the only three people who knew exactly what happened that night: Charles 'Tex' Watson, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Susan Atkins. Charles Manson pictured in 1969 is escorted to his arraignment on conspiracy-murder charges in connection with the Sharon Tate murder case. He died in prison in 2017 Charles Watson was often referred to as 'Charlie's lieutenant' by other members of the Family Patricia Krenwinkel, 77, has been recommended for parole by officials in California earlier this year. She was 21 at the time of the murders On August 8, 1969, Jay Sebring was at the Benedict Canyon home of his close friend and former partner Sharon Tate. Tate, 26, who was eight and a half months pregnant, had invited Sebring and friends Wojciech Frykowski, 32, and Abigail Folger, 25, to keep her company while her husband, director Roman Polanski, was away filming in Europe. Thirty miles away, a plan of unspeakable evil was already in motion. Charles Manson called it 'Helter Skelter' - a warped prophecy he believed would end the decade of peace and love by igniting a race war that would tear society apart. Manson was a failed musician turned self-styled prophet who ran a commune in the California desert, where drifters, addicts and runaways gathered to escape society and absorb his paranoid teachings. His apocalyptic ideology borrowed its name from a song on The Beatles' White Album, which he believed contained coded messages about the coming revolution. But the revolution wasn't coming quickly enough. To hasten it, Manson plotted a series of murders he believed would be blamed on black militants - sparking the collapse he longed for. Tex Watson, Manson's most trusted lieutenant, was chosen to lead the slaughter. Manson told him to take three of the women to 10050 Cielo Drive, 'do something witchy' and make it gruesome. The house had once been rented by music producer Terry Melcher, who had rejected Manson's dream of stardom - and Manson wanted revenge. Shortly before midnight, the group parked down the hill and cut the phone lines. Armed with a .22 revolver, a bayonet and hunting knives, they scaled the fence. DiMaria believes his uncle's character has been misrepresented - reduced to a whimpering caricature Sharon Tate was more than eight months pregnant at the time of her death Their first victim was 18-year-old Steven Parent, who was shot four times by Watson while driving away from the home after visiting Tate's caretaker. Then they moved toward the house. Watson burst through the door and declared: 'I'm the devil, and I'm here to do the devil's business.' Watson and the others forced Sebring, Tate, Frykowski and Folger into the living room. He tied Tate and Sebring together by their necks with a long nylon rope. DiMaria published a book about his uncle, Jay Sebring: Cutting to the Truth, which is available now Amid the chaos, DiMaria says, his uncle - who had trained in martial arts with Bruce Lee - saw a chance to intervene. From the killers' own testimony, Sebring suddenly lunged at Watson, hoping to catch him off guard. 'As Bruce Lee said, there's no defense against a gun - only the element of surprise,' said DiMaria. 'Jay charged at Charles Watson, but one of the others alerted him.' Watson turned and fired. The bullet tore through Sebring's lung. Bleeding heavily and struggling to breathe, he collapsed - but moments later, to the attackers' shock, he tried to stand again. 'He was literally drowning in his own blood, and he still got back up,' DiMaria says. 'That's when Watson kicked him in the face and stabbed him in the back.' With Watson distracted by Sebring, Frykowski and Folger ran in opposite directions, briefly escaping before they, too, were overpowered. The killers, DiMaria says, had planned to make the murders 'methodical' and 'gruesome' - but Sebring's defiance disrupted that plan, if only for a moment. The omission of his uncle's heroism from the record infuriates DiMaria. His biggest frustration is with Bugliosi's book, Helter Skelter, which is still widely considered the definitive account of the Manson murders. 'Why didn't Bugliosi put that in his book?' DiMaria said. 'Because Vincent Bugliosi made himself the hero of his own story - and if he included what Jay Sebring did, then Jay becomes the hero.' Sebring, Tate, Frykowski and Folger were all stabbed and shot multiple times. Their bodies were mutilated. Tate's unborn son was also killed. The next night, Watson led another group to the Los Feliz home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. The couple was slain in similarly horrifying fashion. The victims of Benedict Canyon: Wojciech Frykowski, Sharon Tate, Stephen Parent, Jay Sebring, and Abigail Folger Vincent Bugliosi prosecuted Manson. He later wrote a book, Helter Skelter, in which he described Sebring as 'pitiful' For DiMaria, his contention with Bugliosi's account reflects a deeper problem: how the murders have been framed - and reframed - in the decades since. In the aftermath, media coverage zeroed in on the victims' personal lives - especially the fact that drugs, including cocaine and marijuana, were found at Tate's house. DiMaria says the ways in which the victims were portrayed stripped them of their humanity, turning their deaths into a twisted morality tale. 'Instead of being seen for what they were - brilliant, beautiful young people - they became symbols of Hollywood decadence. 'They became part of a cautionary tale: if you're rich, if you party, if you hang out with the wrong crowd - this is what happens to you. 'And the subtext was: 'as it f***ing should.' As if they deserved it.' As the decades rolled on, the imbalance only deepened. Charles Manson became cultural shorthand for evil - portrayed as a manipulative mastermind who cast a spell over his followers and bent them to his will. He died in prison in 2017, but his face continues to be printed on T-shirts, his name invoked in songs, and his life mythologized in books, films, and countless documentaries. Charles Manson became cultural shorthand for evil - portrayed as a manipulative mastermind For DiMaria, the fight to reclaim his uncle's story is about more than setting the record straight DiMaria rejects the long-standing portrayal of the Manson Family naïve hippie cult, and Manson's so-called 'followers' as helpless flower children under his spell. In truth, he says, they were a gang of willfully violent criminals - a group with the optics of a commune, but the structure and intent of a criminal enterprise. That false narrative, he says, has obscured the full scope of their crimes and allowed some of the killers - particularly Patricia Krenwinkel, who was recently approved for parole - to skirt responsibility by hiding behind decades of revisionism. 'They start dressing themselves up as victims of Manson, and suddenly they're the ones deserving sympathy,' he says. 'Meanwhile, our families are still carrying the grief, still walking into parole hearings to make sure these people stay where they belong.' For DiMaria, the fight to reclaim his uncle's story - and the dignity of every victim - is about more than setting the record straight. In an age of true crime obsession, he believes the only way forward is to refocus on the victims - their lives, their courage. Only then, he says, can we begin to grasp the full scale of what was lost - in this case, and in so many others. 'We need to stop glorifying the people who did this,' he says. 'Stop turning them into icons. Start telling the truth about who they really were - and who they took from us. 'Maybe then we'd start asking why we keep handing them the fame - and turning their crimes into a cash cow.'
The Sun
26 minutes ago
- The Sun
I got illegal bum shots at 22 to get the perfect figure – now I look like a circus freak & no one takes me seriously
A WOMAN has revealed that she now looks like a "circus freak" after getting illegal bum shots aged 22. Courtney Barnes, 35, decided to go to extreme lengths to get a huge bum, after finding that working out at the gym made her bum smaller. 2 2 The influencer underwent three rounds of illegal bum shots at "black market pumping parties", and now has a 59inch bum. However, she now completely regrets the illegal procedures she got, and is determined to reverse them. "At one point I wanted a bigger butt at any cost", Courtney, from Miami, Florida told Truly. "But now I realise it could cost me my life." "I may look like a circus freak, but I just want people to see me for me", she said. The surgery that Courtney needs to undergo to remove her bum injections is very complicated, and will set her back more than £14,000. "There are a lot of risks involved, and I don't even think doctors fully know the risk", she said. Due to the illegal injections, Courtney's bum is now discoloured and saggy. She is also constantly "stalked" by people fascinated by her behind, and receives a lot of hate online for her unusual physique. Trolls have claimed her bum "looks like melted cheese", and that she must have low self-esteem. I'm 30 & have had 4 BBL's - trolls say my bum looks like a wisdom tooth but I don't care about the risks, I want curves Courtney is now hoping to completely transform her image, and has even got herself a life coach. "I'm ready to look like the girl next door", she said. As well as getting her bum injections removed, Courtney is aiming for a more conservative look, so as to be taken seriously as an author. She has written a book about her story, to warn people about the dangers of cosmetic surgery. What are the risks of getting surgery abroad? IT'S important to do your research if you're thinking about having cosmetic surgery abroad. It can cost less than in the UK, but you need to weigh up potential savings against the potential risks. Safety standards in different countries may not be as high. No surgery is risk-free. Complications can happen after surgery in the UK or abroad. If you have complications after an operation in the UK, the surgeon is responsible for providing follow-up treatment. Overseas clinics may not provide follow-up treatment, or they may not provide it to the same standard as in the UK. Also, they may not have a healthcare professional in the UK you can visit if you have any problems. Source: NHS "There are a lot of women who want cosmetic surgery because they do not like their bodies, and I just want to say 'don't do it." "I've made a lot of mistakes, and I'm looking to put all that behind me."
Daily Mail
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Joy Taylor shares 'reality' of Fox Sports firing... and whether it was really linked to sex lawsuit scandal
Former Fox Sports analyst Joy Taylor has revealed whether her axing from the network was linked to the bombshell sex lawsuit was was embroiled in. The host's nine-year stint at Fox came to an abrupt end after the network reportedly failed to renew her contract four months after the lawsuit began. However, in her latest comments, Taylor has now insisted that her dismissal had 'nothing to do' with the lawsuit. Speaking on the Hot Mics with Billy Bush podcast, Taylor said: 'I will say that that situation and that suit had nothing to do with the changes that happened at FS1. 'I think from a logical standpoint, everyone can just look at it and see what the changes were and that there were three shows that were cut.' 'It can be boiled down to, for the internet, as 'Joy Taylor is no longer at FS1.' And that's a simple way of looking at it. 'But the reality is, three shows were let go and a massive sports network shifted into a really aggressive, different direction.' Not only was Taylor left behind by the network, but Fox also cut the show that she hosted - 'Speak' - entirely. The decision from Fox came shortly after the lawsuit brought by former FS1 hairstylist Noushin Faraji, who listed Taylor as a defendant as well as top programming executive Charlie Dixon and Skip Bayless. Taylor was accused of using sexual relationships with colleagues, including Dixon and former co-host Emmanuel Acho, to further her career in the lawsuit filed by the ex-employee. The 38-year-old was also alleged to have told Faraji to 'get over it' when she confided in her about claims she was sexually assaulted by Dixon. Taylor has denied all allegations. The 38-year-old initially broke her silence on the matter last month, as she expressed gratitude for the opportunities she's had as a female panelist in sports media, but suggested that the events have left her feeling jaded towards the industry. 'Overall, like the saying 'it doesn't feel like work when you're doing something that you actually enjoy.' I think what happened to me this year took that away from me,' Taylor said on The Ringer's Higher Learning. 'I don't know if I'll get that back. I might — and maybe like when the callous forms over the wound and you get away from things you it doesn't feel, like the tremors go away, so we're not there yet — but right now, it doesn't feel that way. It doesn't feel exciting'. Meanwhile, she also recently hinted at what the future will hold for her as she embarks on the next chapter of her career. In a snippet from an upcoming episode of the 'Let Her Shoot' podcast, Taylor said: 'I'll have a lot of announcements coming up. 'You know, as far as everything that happened, that's the business. Nothing is forever, as all these cliches, but that is what it is. You know, (I'm) grateful, I had nine years on a network and the next chapter will be equally as exciting. 'I'm not limiting myself. I've worked with a bunch of different people over the years, people I never thought that I would end up partnering up with.
