Role of personality traits in first impressions: An investigation of actual and perceived personality similarity effects on interpersonal attraction across communication modalities,

•Effects of personality traits on interpersonal attraction differ face-to-face vs. on Facebook.•Perceived similarity is a more significant predictor of attraction than actual similarity.•Non-linear analyses capture variance in interpersonal attraction more strongly.•Individuals are more likely to anchor their impressions of others when interacting face-to-face.•Individuals seek interaction with others who complement themselves but not threaten their self-evaluation.