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OSU Study Shows Moms Who Post More Baby Pictures Are Looking For Validation

Courtney Carmody
OSU Study finds new Moms look for validation on Facebook.

A new OSU study of highly-educated, Midwestern women indicates new mothers who want to be seen as good parents post more pictures of their babies on Facebook.
Study author, Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, says moms who posted frequent baby pictures looked for validation as parents.

"We also found that mothers who use Facebook more to show off their new babies had identities that were defined by motherhood. That motherhood was a very central part of their identities."

Shoppe-Sullivan says the study also found that mothers who posted most frequently reported feeling bad if they didn't get enough positive comments or "likes."

Hear Marilyn Smith's conversation with OSU Professor Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan.