I was 15 years old when I bought the coveted, and rare for the time, iPhone 4. I was so excited to be a part of the elite group of kids in my high school with an iPhone. Not only that, but I was one of the few who had the new and unusual front-facing camera. Interested to see what this unconventional feature had to offer, I went up to my room, found the perfect lighting, and took a selfie. I immediately went onto my computer and edited it so I looked exactly how I wanted. It was such a satisfying feeling knowing I could make myself more beautiful than I actually was. But at the same time, I knew it was wrong. I felt guilty because I was not displaying an accurate depiction of who I really was. After that I took a step back from selfies.
The selfie has evolved quite a lot since that day. It has taken over society in such a way that, now, taking selfies is a vital part of many people's every day lives. It gives people the ability to show off where they are, what they're doing, and who they're with. Taking selfies, along with social media, gives people the power to edit themselves – and their lives – in a way that caters to their desired image. It feels like people aren't living genuinely anymore. Instead they are living in a way that maintains the image they want to uphold. When was the last time something interesting happened and people's first reaction wasn't taking out their cell phone and documenting it?
Now that people have so much control over their image, the ideas of "beauty" and "perfection" have changed in ways that force people to work harder in order to maintain certain standards. This leads to insecurities about self-image along with anxiety about keeping up with the times. A study conducted in 2012 on social media and its effects on emotions found that 53% of participants believed social media had changed their behavior. At the same time, 51% of participants said this change was negative. This demonstrates the negative power social media can have over people’s lives.
Imagine what life would be like if people did not have the power to edit their image like they do now? Life would be more organic and less stressful because it would be easier to simply be present. Conversations would be more genuine because people would not be constantly checking their phone or posting on social media. Life would be less about keeping up with societal trends and more about being who you actually are. People wouldn't get their self-worth from Instagram likes or Twitter followers, but from real relationships they build with others. I encourage you to think about your motives for your next selfie. Are you trying to create a fun memory? Or are you living life through an artificial image of yourself you only wish was real?
