“This food looks mouth-watering; I can barely wait to dig in!” – “Care to say grace?” – “Sure, but let’s take a selfie first”
In this era of e-commerce, smartphones, and social media, the “selfie” is on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Described as a smartphone or webcam-photograph that one has taken of oneself, selfies are known to be taken typically for use on social media. And with the current rise of Instagram, selfies have really taken the city by storm, spreading faster than wild fire.
The emergence of selfie sticks has also made selfies all the more easier. This new-age tool is nothing short of convenient as it acts as a monopod for your smartphone, allowing you to capture a wider or more diverse scope of you and your environment without having to bother someone else to. Selfie sticks enable you to also include a greater number of people in your selfie since the human arm is not built to stretch that far out. In regards to photographing and selfies, this accessory spells out convenience for any smartphone holder.
Initially, selfies were a common practice amongst the younger generation. This would make sense given the difference in digital use between members of the “dot com” demographic and their elderly counterparts- the BBCs (Born Before Computers). But currently, the simple possession of smartphones has enabled the trend to engulf the entire globe, with people of all ages taking selfies.
According to statistics, more women take selfies than men. A certain study actually revealed that young women aged between 16 and 25 are the main offenders; spending a staggering five hours a week in the name of getting those shots just right. This amounts to an average of 16 minutes on each selfie-session, three times a day! The guys also joined the ranks, with men aged between 18 and 40 engaging in selfie activities between two and three hours a week.
Why people take selfies, however, is a question that has no particular answer. The most reasonable explanation would drive the concept of sharing on social media into play, but even that requires some sort of incentive. Statistics show that up to 83% of the people that post selfies on social media do so to get attention from as many people as possible. Be it views, reposts, likes, comments, retweets, you name it! As long as it builds on your idea of relevance in society, the selfies can keep going up. Social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter make this all the more possible. Another reason would be requiring the attention of one person in particular.
With platforms such as WhatsApp and Snapchat, you can zone in on your person of interest and send them a selfie to derive some sort of feedback. But most people aim at attaining the most positive feedback possible, so selfies are also taken to ensure everything is perfect. Ever wondered why women like going to the restrooms in groups? Just jump on Instagram and you will find that up to 40% of the selfies taken are test runs in front of bathroom mirrors or post make-up pictures.
Before you ponder on what the world is becoming, it is best we all come to terms with the harsh reality that selfies are a global trend, and chances are they are here to stay. Just like normal pictures, they allow us to capture the moments we treasure and share amongst ourselves. At the end of the day, these moments help us build memories worth reminiscing both on and off social media.
Now, let’s take a selfie…
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