What does your lock screen photo say about you? More than you think
When Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s phone lock screen photos were caught on camera recently — two never-before-seen images of the pair — the chat went into overdrive. Everything from where and when the photos were taken to the possibility of a secret engagement was discussed online.
Reality TV star Kylie Jenner has also been snapped with a photo of her and boyfriend, actor Timothee Chalamet on her phone, while US President Donald Trump has been caught numerous times with various photos of himself.
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift were recently pictured on an evening out with Kelce’s phone (bottom left) featuring a photo of the couple as his lock screen image.Credit: @killatrav Instagram
Celebrity or not, for many of us, our phones are like an extension of ourselves, accompanying us everywhere, holding a treasure trove of personal information, from calendars and banking apps to tickets and contact details. So, for these essential devices, what does our choice of lock screen photo say about us?
Clinical psychologist and author Dr Rebecca Ray says that our selection of lock screen image – the image that appears on start-up – can reveal a lot about our personality and what we value in life.
Donald Trump’s phone features a photo of himself pointing at the camera.Credit: AFP
“We usually choose images we connect with emotionally, so your lock screen can reflect what you value or love, what grounds you, or even what you’re working through,” she explains.
“It’s like a little visual insight into your inner world.
“A photo of their partner or them and their partner together reflects love, connection and emotional closeness. It can also be a way of keeping that person front of mind during the day,” says Ray.
Celebrities or fictional characters can bring joy and creativity, while quotes can take on a motivational purpose.
“This choice is about mindset,” Ray explains. “People may choose quotes to motivate themselves, remind them of a value or keep them focused during a challenging time.”
For 64-year-old Boronia man Graham Wynn, his phone lock screen features something deeply personal: his beloved Jack Russel Meka, who died 18 months ago aged 16.
“It’s a picture of her looking at me. She used to sit with me when I was working; she was always there,” he says.
Graham Wynn has a photo of his late dog Meka who, Wynn says, gave him a reason to get out of bed during tough times.Credit: Eddie Jim
Wynn says that he adopted Meka when she was eight, and she was an emotional support to him through a messy divorce and mental health struggles in its aftermath.
“I went through some real serious bouts of depression and loneliness,” he says. “And I must admit, there were times when, you know, you’re driving home thinking, who, who would care if I wasn’t here.
“Having the dog there to greet me when I came home and someone to care for and have responsibility for helped me through; she rescued me.”
Wynn has had the same photo on his lock screen since Meka died, and before that had other photos of her.
“Your choice of lock screen says a lot about you. For me, that I’m an animal lover and having Meka specifically brings up a lot of memories and the joy and happiness she brought me,” says Wynn.
For 31-year-old Sutherland man, Blue West, his lock screen image is an AI-generated “ideal version” of himself. West says he found the AI image on an Instagram account he follows, and it immediately resonated with him.
Blue West says his lock screen image is a regular reminder that he doesn’t need to conform to traditional notions of masculinity.Credit: Janie Barrett
“When I saw it, I went, Oh my God, I freaking love that image. Because for me, I relate so much to that and I wish I had more of it growing up or like saw more of it,” he says.
“[The man in the photo] has a typical male face aesthetic, with beautiful curly hair, square jaw, a bronzed muscular body – the biological sex male characteristics but with these non-typical masculine gendered clothing and jewellery and holding martinis, which are also typically a feminine drink.”
West, who has identified as non-binary in the past but now predominantly uses he/his pronouns, says having a broader representation of masculinity on his lock screen is important for him as it serves as a reminder that it is okay to be himself.
“This image reminds me every time I look at it that I am who I am, and even if I can’t see it externally from myself and other people around me, the image reminds me.”
For West, his lock screen photos always serve a significant purpose.
“I want to be reminded of what I’m missing out on, or I want to be reminded of what I’m working toward,” he says. “Every time I look at that image, I see a man, something or someone that I’d like to be, that looks put together, safe and beautiful. And I think for me, it represents hope.”
But there are limits. While Ray says that, like in West’s case, photos of yourself can be a sign of confidence, self-celebration or motivation, perhaps for Trump, it may also be what others have labelled it: narcissism.
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