Taking Thirst Traps Can Be Good For Your Mental Health, According To Research

Let's be real: Sometimes, you just look good. The outfit is outfit-ing, your hair suddenly decided to cooperate, and the lighting is doing you all kinds of favors. Naturally, you whip out your phone, take approximately 50 photos, and spend the next 20 minutes picking a favorite (followed by another 10 minutes finding the perfect song for your IG Story).

We tend to associate thirst traps with fishing for compliments, getting someone's attention, or giving your situationship a little something to think about. And sure, those can be part of the fun. But as Dazed has touched on, taking photos of yourself can also be a way to appreciate how you look, play around with your personal style, and have a little fun with your own image.

Selfies aren't a magical cure for low self-esteem, and research on the subject is mixed. Still, there's something to be said for letting yourself enjoy a photo of yourself without immediately looking for something to fix.

When you look in the mirror, what's the first thing you notice? If your brain immediately zooms in on your skin texture, tummy, or the way your arms look in a certain top, you're definitely not alone. It's easy to get so caught up in what we wish looked different that we forget to appreciate the things we actually like about ourselves.

Taking a thirst trap can be a nice change of pace. Maybe you're feeling your outfit, you finally nailed that makeup look you've been trying to recreate, or you caught a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and thought, "Damn, I look like that fr?" You take a few photos, find one you love, and get to enjoy that feeling for a little longer. No audience needed.

Of course, research suggests that taking selfies doesn't always have this effect. A 2021 study found that women who took selfies reported lower momentary self-esteem and more negative moods than those who photographed objects. The researchers also found greater self-objectification, which is when you start looking at yourself from an outsider's perspective and worrying about how your appearance might be judged.

In other words, there's a difference between taking a photo because you're feeling yourself and spending 30 minutes picking apart every little thing you don't like. One can be fun; the other can turn getting ready into a full-blown critique sesh.

Getting a compliment from your crush? Seeing your BFF hype you up in the comments? Catching your situationship among your Story viewers? We get it. It's fun to feel wanted, and there's nothing wrong with enjoying a little attention. Sometimes, you just want to look good and have people notice. That's hardly a crime.

The tricky part is when you start relying on those reactions to feel good about yourself. We've all been there: You post a photo you're obsessed with, check your Story views every five minutes, and start wondering why a certain someone hasn't watched it yet. Suddenly, something that started out as fun has become an exercise in overthinking.

There's research behind these concerns, too. A 2018 study found that young women who took and posted selfies reported feeling more anxious, less confident, and less physically attractive afterward.

This doesn't mean you should stop posting selfies. Just remember that your favorite photo doesn't become less cute because it gets 12 likes instead of 120. Enjoy the compliments, let your friends hype you up, and have fun posting. Just don't let other people's reactions decide how you feel about yourself.

If taking thirst traps makes you feel confident, lets you experiment with your style, or reminds you that you actually like how you look, go for it. You don't need to justify every flattering photo as an act of self-love, and you certainly don't need to pretend you're above wanting a little attention. We're only human, after all.

You can keep the photo in your camera roll, send it to your BFF, or post it for your followers. You can even take a selfie on a day when you're not feeling 100% confident, just because you want to.

The point isn't to convince yourself that you look good enough for others—it's to let yourself enjoy how you look without needing everyone else to agree. So, take the thirst trap. Wear the outfit you've been saving for a night out. Let your friends hype you up.

And if your crush happens to see it? Well, that's just a bonus. 🤪