Living in a world dominated by different social media platforms， we marvel at how deeply they can influence our daily life. But have you ever taken the potential of your profile photo into consideration？ Actually， it can be a key element which builds the first impression you leave on others.

在各种社交媒体软件重度使用的今天，我们惊叹于它们对我们的日常生活所产生的巨大影响。而你有没有注意到头像的内在潜力呢？事实上，头像会在很大程度上影响聊天时的第一印象。

Believe it or not， profile pictures can tell a lot about the person. Is he funny？ Single or married？ Plump or slim？ Strangers can more or less get a clue of what kind of person he is from his avatar！

不管你信或不信，头像图片能反映一个人的许多信息。他是一个幽默的人吗？单身还是已婚？胖还是瘦？陌生人都能或多或少地从他的头像中取得一些线索。

Frankly speaking， a profile picture is to social media what ones appearance is to real life.

坦白来说，一个人的头像在网络社交中的作用，就像是外表在现实生活中的作用一样。

Since your profile picture serve as the handiest source of what kind of person you are to strangers or people unfamiliar， it can leave a strong influence on what others think of you in the long term.

对于陌生人或不熟悉的人来说，通过头像来了解你是何种类型的人是最容易的途径。在很长一段时间里，他人对你的印象多是通过头像建立的。

For example， a lonely silhouette makes others feel distant while a warm smile brings sincerity.

举例来说，一个高冷孤寂的背影也许会增加距离感，而一个亲切的笑容也许会让人觉得真诚可信。

Furthermore， profile photos can partially decide how others trust you.

进一步而言，头像在一定程度上会决定他人对你的信任程度。

Reports show that a photo of real person gains trust more easily than an image of a cartoon or something else.

研究表明使用真人照片做头像要比使用卡通或其他头像更容易取得他人的信任。

Sometimes profile pictures can mirror ones inner feelings. People who adopt cute pets and animation figures as their profile pictures are more likely to feel uneasy when handling daily trivia.

有時，头像能反映一个人的内心感受。使用可爱的宠物和卡通图片作头像的人在处理日常琐事时更容易有不安感。

Meanwhile， your profile picture is revealing your age without your noticing it.

与此同时，头像会在不经意间暴露一个人的年龄。

Youngsters tease elder people about their old-fashioned profile photos—either landscape or plants.

年轻人取笑老一辈人的头像过时，不是风景就是植物。

Obvious enough， post 90s people have more complex taste in choosing profile photos—some use portraits of their idols， some use Internet memes while others choose a popular dog to show they are single. Some even follow the pace of season to change their profile photos.

显然，90后对头像的选择更是五花八门。有人用偶像的照片，有人用网络爆红的图片，也有人用一只名狗做头像来表明自己是一只“单身狗”。更有甚者随季节更换头像。

Unavoidably， different tastes in profile photos render awkward dispute between children and parents.

在头像选择上的巨大审美差异难以避免地挑起了孩子同父母之间许多啼笑皆非的争吵。

A netizen complained that her mom asked her to change the avatar in which she made a face and stuck out her tongue because Chinese traditional grim reapers do the same facial expression.

一位网友就曾抱怨到她的妈妈勒令她换掉自己的头像——那是一张她做着鬼脸吐着舌头的自拍照，原因是中国传统文化中勾人魂魄的白无常也是这样的表情。

Profile pictures are believed to somehow reflect personality.

人们相信，头像在一定程度上反映了一个人的性格。

Those who use selfies as profile pictures are more inclined to express themselves in public. To be more specific， they are eager to build a positive self-image and reveal it to others. Though people of similar temper are very likely to appreciate similar style of profile photos， it is still closely relevant to individual preference.

用自己照片做头像的人，更倾向于公开表达自己。也就是说，他们更希望展现自己想塑造的积极的个人形象。虽然秉性相近的人会欣赏同类型的头像，但还是能体现出个体差异。

Is there anyone in your friend list who changes profile photos so frequently on social media that you cant follow its pace？ You cant help wondering： why did he/she change his/her avatar again？

你是不是跟不上某個朋友在社交媒体上更换头像的速度？你不禁感慨：他/她怎么又换头像了？

Frequent change of profile photos， or even a changeable style， is likely to be a sign of instable personality. Of course， changing profile photos frequently in a short term may indicate that your friend feels up and down during that time.

频繁地更换头像，甚至风格多变，很可能是一种性格不稳定的表现。当然，短期内经常换头像，也许表明你的朋友在那段时间情绪有起伏。

However， one exception is that some perfectionists change their profile pictures from time to time to approach the so-called “perfect” standard.

然而，还有一种例外情况，那就是一些完美主义者会不时地更换他们的头像，目的是达到他们心中“完美”的标准。

Just as appearances do not determine everything， avatars may have a greater impact on the formation of first impressions， but this effect fades as people learn more about each other. So please do not overstate the importance of a photo online.

不过，就像外貌并不能决定一切一样，头像对第一印象的形成或许有较大的影响，但在人与人相互了解的过程中，这种影响会逐渐消退，所以不要夸大头像的作用。

In fact， people know from the bottom of their hearts that a profile photo can never change the true image of a person that is mostly based on character and quality.

其实人们心底都明白，头像不会改变一个人的真实形象，这种形象大部分建立在性格和品质的基础上。