The age of the "self" is upon us. We are always looking to seek validation through Facebook comments, Instagram likes, and retweets on Twitter. Social media has completely taken over our world, which brings us together on a globally connected platform, yet it seems as though this platform is what our world solely revolves around. One of the most notorious features of this "new age of the self" is the selfie.
Yes, I'm referring to duck faces and peace signs, selfie sticks, and excessive filters. Although it might seem "basic"- which is a newer term that's been coined to talk specifically about women who seem to conform to the crowds and not have her own personality- it's part of the new generation. It seems like selfies are a part of a daily routine. We detract our attention from our surroundings to engage in this new behavior of taking photos of ourselves. Of course the angle has to be perfect, and the lighting has to be good, but if not, we can always use the 300 apps on our phones to edit ourselves, which as superficial as that sounds, is true.
The concept of "selfies" have been around for years, dating back to 1839 with Robert Cornelius. Obviously he didn't pull out his iPhone 6+ and use XX-Pro or Valencia to enhance his jaw, but he started the concept of "self-portaits." The concept of self-portraits- as portrayed in paintings and drawings goes back to the 15th century. We as humans have evolved over time, and that's expected, especially in a world of technology and new ideas.
But is this narcissistic or is it self-empowerment? This is an argument that may not be black and white, and there is definitely a lot of overlap and voids. Even though a majority of people wouldn't care to see an album on Facebook devoted to you on a specific day, nobody says you can't do just that. The motive for posting a selfie is where the amount of narcissism and self-confidence lies. Many people post pictures of themselves for likes, comments, etc,, while there are those who genuinely feel good about themselves and want to show the world.
Selfies- whether they're liked or not- are a part of pop culture. In this age of the self, there's no point in trying to resist taking the occasional selfie. Loving yourself is important, and if posting a few photos on social media is a way to express it, then just do it. Don't worry about other peoples' opinions because those who matter don't mind, and those that mind don't matter.
