Post by TheyCallMeTiko on Sept 30, 2013 2:57:19 GMT -5
Interesting read. I remember trying to write an article on this rising, girl bashing, self centered, angry Myspace trend that was taking a place a few years back. But I've noticed since the emergence of Facebook, then Twitter and now Instagram, we've seen the same trend morph a bit into an extremely self absorbed atmosphere socially where everyone just wants to be seen.
From Teen Vogue
It's easy: Flip the view on your phone and hold it at a
high angle, making your eyes look bigger and your
cheekbones more defined. Position your thumb
over the button, turn to your best side, and click.
The art of the selfie is one that lots of people have
practiced and perfected in recent years. Seriously, lots.
As of press time, more than 31 million Instagram photos
have been hashtagged #selfie, and according to a recent
study from the Pew Research Center, 91 percent of teens
have posted a photo of themselves online. You're not
alone: Celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, and Justin
Bieber are perpetual selfie posters, as you've likely noticed.
And when even the Mars rover is programmed to
be able to take photos of itself, you know selfies are more
than just a trend. They're here to stay.
Part of the reason for their popularity? "The cult of the
selfie celebrates regular people," says Pamela Rutledge,
Ph.D., faculty director of the media psychology program
at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology.
"There are many more photographs available now of real
people than models." And posting selfies is an empowering
act for another reason: It allows you to control your
image online. "I am painfully self-conscious about photos
of myself," admits Samantha, nineteen, from Missouri.
"I like having the power to choose how I look, even if I'm
making a funny face."
But let's be real: The most common selfie is the one
where you look cute, partially because it's a quick way to
get positive comments about your appearance. "If I feel
pretty, I take one," says Maryland native Paris, 23. "When
other people Like it, it's a mini boost of confidence."
Sure, showing off a new outfit or that you're at a cool
event is fun, but it can be a slippery slope. Psychologist Jill
Weber, Ph.D., says there's a danger that your self-esteem
may start to be tied to the comments and Likes you get when you post a selfie, and they aren't based on who you
are—they're based on what you look like. On one hand,
seeking validation is totally normal, Dr. Weber explains:
"It's a healthy way for teenagers to develop their identity."
But with social networks, where it's easy to get quick hits
of approval almost constantly, the selfie thing can quickly
spiral out of control. It may even start to feel like an addiction:
When you get a "GORGE," you're up, but when you
get nothing—or a "get over yourself"—your confidence
can plummet. Girls in particular are socialized toward
seeing themselves as lovable and worthwhile only if
others value them, Dr. Weber notes, and "selfie culture is
a way for this tendency to go into overdrive."
That could be one explanation for total selfie
overload (aka when you see ten photos in a row of the
same person in your feed—overkill alert!). "My friends
and I joke about people who have selfies as their cell
phone backgrounds," says Cora*, seventeen, from
Massachusetts. "It seems like they have nothing important
in their lives other than the way they look, which is
pretty shallow." But according to Dr. Weber, there's more
to it than that. "In my experience, girls who repeatedly
post selfies struggle with low self-esteem," she says.
Overall, opinions vary on whether selfie culture
is lame or legit, which means it's up to you to shape the
future of the habit. Ask yourself: Are my selfies for fun, or
do I need the comments? If you fall under category two,
Dr. Rutledge recommends shifting your perspective. That
could mean cutting selfies out entirely or just scaling back
and making them more fun. Bottom line? Everything you
share on social media reveals something about you, and
you are in control. So maybe you like to travel, or read, or
dance, or create crazy 3-D nail art ... post that! Take it from
us: It's so much more interesting.
*Name has been changed.
Why do you think we've become to self indulgent lately?