Remember the days when ‘self-portrait’ was the only way to describe a photo taken of oneself? Now ‘selfie’ has taken over the reins. Along with popular hashtags like #ootd (outfit of the day), #wiwt (what I wore today) and #tbt (throwback thursdays), we can often see heaps of selfies on social media apps like Instagram and Facebook. Below are some famous selfies:
Selfie, named Oxford Dictionaries’ word of the year in 2013 is defined as “ a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.”
Selfie came about with the rise of better cameras, tablets, cellphones and accompanying apps. However, with advancing tech gadgets also came a problem: a global selfie pandemic.
Taking selfies is not just an American past time. As a matter of fact, based on an article released by Time Magazine, America is only ranked number two in the world in terms of the number of selfies taken per capita.
(Photo Source: Time Magazine Inc.)
With the world interconnected by social networks, its easy to get addicted to taking selfies. Chronic selfie taking is probably the most hated social media trend. Below is an infographic of the evolution of selfies and how we became a generation of the selfie-obsessed. Are you guilty of any of these below?
(Photo Source of IBN)
Although, not exactly a pandemic, we tend to have mixed feelings about selfies. On the positive side, occasional selfies can be viewed as an update and recording tool to our social world. Yet, on the other hand we all have that family or friend that posts at least 10 or more selfies every day. These chronic selfie posters are the ones giving selfie taking a bad name.
So why can’t we stop taking selfies? Is it because we are innately attention seeking and advanced photo-taking technology has allowed us to magnify this quality? Or is it because we can now be like the elites and celebrities; having access to the same apps and technology? Maybe, it’s the industry encouraging with better cameras and apps available for the selfie lover.
The are many ways to try to understand why. But, it seems like it is down to self-perception. Self-perception is important, and not always in a narcissistic way. It is how we show ourselves to the world. We rely on others’ judgement, appraisals and in today’s world “likes”, to develop our social identity. Willingly or not, selfies now contribute in the construction of our social self.
Now, regardless of the reason why you take selfies, remember to always practice some Selfietiquette.
(Photo Source: A Dash of Ash)
Our love-hate relationship with selfie taking is not about to end anytime soon, so why not embrace it from time to time? #LetMeGoTakeASelfie
Are you a selfie lover or hater? Share your thoughts below.