Let's take a #Selfie

Take a look at this picture. It was taken in 2010, before the invention of the termed "selfie stick," and made a laughing stock by a bunch of articles and stories on the Internet. Little did we know that this woman and her contraption would be revolutionary in the selfie taking world. Who knew that by attaching a camera phone to a rod that extends a few feet away could capture the perfect selfie; have the perfect angle to make your chin look just right, and your cheeks not too pudgy? 

When looking at the concept of the selfie, I can see both positives and negatives in its role in society and societal relationships.

On one end, the idea of a selfie has promoted a society where "social acceptance comes only when the outside world accepts the way we look, rather than endorsing the work we do or behave off-camera" (Day, 2013). I must admit, I've taken and posted a few selfies over the years, and I have edited every single one of them. Why? Why is it socially necessary to use applications and filters to create an image that society would accept?

Looking at the apps available to the public today to create "perfection," Perfect365 is one that makes me laugh. Apparently if you use this app, you can be "perfect" 365 days of the year. On this app, you can completely transform your face: brighten your teeth and eyes, lift your cheeks, add makeup, soften your skin. You name it, the app probably has it. You can even add crazy hair styles if you want. I tried the app out myself and here is an example of the before and after images:

They are the same picture, the second one is just edited. The portrayal that people can display of themselves through an image is very powerful. It is thought that the better someone looks, the more "likes" that person will receive when posting it on social media. We fall into a trap of thinking digital "likes" are a representation of how many people like us. "Selfie users are seeking some kind of approval from their peers and the larger community, which thanks to the Internet is not effectively infinite" (Day, 2013). 

On a more positive side, Elizabeth Day talked to one woman found dwelling in her Instagram feed after her father died. It is a way to socially interact with other people. She said, "I couldn't bear the conversations but one way to prove that I was OK was to take a picture of myself. That revealed that one, I was still functioning and, two, that I was out doing stuff" (Day, 2013). I think it is cool that an image can express a thousand words, and selfies could be used in tough situations to help persevere and say the words you can't say.

Another positive in the selfie taking aspect is it is a way to express yourself. Similar to getting a haircut/dying your hair or trying a new makeup style, a selfie editing applications are a way to play around with different filters and portray yourself a certain way to the public. It's a way to explore sexuality and the image you want to display.

Overall, there are both positives and negatives in the progression and normalization of the selfie in society. It causes some people to be insecure and present a facade image of who they are not. On the other hand, it is a way to explore sexuality and image. The difference is the mindset you are in when taking, editing and posting the picture.

References:

Day, Elizabeth. (2013). How selfies became a Global Phenomenon. The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/jul/14/how-selfies-became-a-global-phenomenon.