Ilaria Rosella Pagliaro Science reveals why showing your left cheek in selfies makes you seem more emotional and authentic — and earns more likes.
We live in an age where every post, every photo, every selfie is a tiny performance. If, as Shakespeare wrote, “All the world’s a stage,” then today our stage is Instagram — and the audience is endlessly scrolling. But here’s something not everyone knows: when it comes to selfies, one side of your face tends to do better than the other. And no, it’s not just about personal preference or good lighting. Science has something to say — and it turns out, the left side of your face is the crowd favorite.
That’s right. Whether you love selfies or loathe them, they’ve become a key part of how we tell our stories. But not all selfies are created equal. Choosing the right — or rather, the left — side can change how people perceive you.
Why the left side feels more alive
The reason lies in your brain. The muscles responsible for emotional expression on your face are controlled by the opposite hemisphere of your brain. And because the right hemisphere is more involved in processing emotions, it controls the left side of your face.
The result? Your left cheek tends to move more, react quicker, and express emotion better. Even if we’re not consciously aware of it, when we look at someone’s face, it often feels more “alive” and emotionally rich if it’s turned to the left. It’s an ancient instinct, a non-verbal language our brain picks up on without us even realizing.
And the camera sees it too. Images showing the left side of the face are perceived as more empathetic, sincere, and joyful. Even when photos are digitally mirrored, the left side still feels more emotionally engaging.
The data backs it up
This isn’t just theory. Researchers have analyzed millions of selfies uploaded in cities like New York, Bangkok, Berlin, and Moscow. A striking pattern emerged: the left cheek dominates. And here’s where it gets interesting — selfies featuring the left side tend to get around 10% more likes than those showing the right.
A study of 20 high-profile Instagram accounts found that a simple head tilt to the left could translate into over 330,000 additional likes. That’s a massive difference, especially for those working in the influencer space. Unsurprisingly, digital marketers have picked up on this unconscious bias. Out of 2,000 advertising posts analyzed, 60% featured a model’s left cheek.
Even celebrity chefs seem to know the trick. Among 493 cookbook covers examined, 40% show the chef’s left side, while only 32% highlight the right.
The side of love, connection, and instinct
This left-side preference goes well beyond selfies. It’s a deep, almost instinctual trend that shows up in countless parts of our lives. For example, most mothers hold their babies on the left side of their bodies. This means infants get a clearer view of the more expressive side of their mother’s face — and not coincidentally, closer to her heart.
This behavior isn’t limited to mothers. It’s been observed in childless women, young children, and even primates like gorillas and chimpanzees. It seems the emotional priority of the left side runs deep in our evolutionary wiring.
And artists, centuries ago, seemed to intuitively understand this. A study of 1,474 European portraits from the 16th to 20th centuries showed that 68% of female subjects and 56% of male subjects were painted showing their left cheek. Think of The Mona Lisa, Girl with a Pearl Earring, or Whistler’s Mother — all presenting their emotional side.
Interestingly, when it comes to self-portraits, the right cheek is more common. Why? Because artists used mirrors to paint themselves. To paint their left side, they had to show it to the mirror — meaning what appeared on canvas was actually the right.
When emotion speaks louder than intention
Scientists have tested this phenomenon in the lab. They asked participants to imagine posing for two different kinds of portraits: one for their family — affectionate and personal — and one for the Royal Society — smart and reserved. The results? In emotional settings, most people instinctively chose to show their left cheek. In more rational contexts, the preference faded.
What this tells us is simple: the side of our face we choose to show communicates far more than we think. If you want to come across as authentic, emotionally available, and engaging, the left side speaks louder.
So next time you take a selfie — pause. Tilt just slightly. And know that you’re not just snapping a shot for likes. You’re showing who you are, without saying a word.
Source: Royal Society
