But first, let me take a selfie.
I was curious what came to mind for people when they heard the word “selfie.” Here were a few words I got: narcissistic, self-consumed, obnoxious, and every other word that had to do with being self obsessed. The funny part about this is that all the people who gave me these answers had selfie profile pics on Facebook. I’m not a hater of selfies, but c’mon - own your selfie, people.
I am not a selfie hater here. I am guilty of taking selfies quite often. I recently deleted my Snapchat app. I got sick of myself. There are only so many pictures you can take, right? I mean, I don’t want to see myself that often and I don’t think anyone else does either.
The “Selfie Effect” has created a forum that reaches beyond digital media platforms. It has become a daily ritual for people. It’s me, me, me, and oh, hi, me again. The funny thing is I detest the word "selfie" because I feel like it encompasses an individual overly concerned with outer appearance when in reality, their inner appearance would make for a very unattractive selfie.
Okay, now I am selfie hating. I retract my previous statement.
The whole idea of a “selfie” forced me to think about how it become so popular, but even more importantly - why? Why do we need the approval of others? Is this the new way to lift self-esteem? I guess it all comes back to image and the desire to create a certain “brand” for yourself. This creates an idea for others to have about you. If you were the only one to see your selfies, would you take them? What is the motivation behind that selfie?
Mashable published a great article on the many effects it has on people.
Does self-value really come from a picture? A picture defines absolutely nothing, except for an article of clothing or art. A picture more so defines the intention behind the image. Imagine a world without mirrors, without the ability to take a selfie. How would your motivation change? Is your motivation for yourself or is it for others?
I am not saying if you take a selfie you are a self-absorbed person who longs for the attention of other people. No, I am not saying that at all. I encourage you to purge yourself of selfies just for a little bit, or ask yourself, "Who am I taking this for?" After all, the mentions on the screen aren’t half as important as the mentions in mirror.
