People are taking more than 1 million selfies (self-portraits, usually taken with a smartphone) every day. Selfies are part of our culture. Originally it appeared that the selfie craze was a fleeting trend. In the beginning watching someone take a selfie was odd, uncomfortable and it felt narcissistic; a narcissistic behavior that soon became an everyday occurrence.
Just about everyone is taking them, from President Obama to Pope Francis, not to mention all the celebrities. It’s surprising the paparazzi are still in the business.
When the craze began it was considered a shameless act. You were either questioned, teased or mocked by friends or family. The act of taking a photo of your every moment was just unheard of and absurd.
You might consider taking a selfie a shameless act but when you consider that for centuries and decades the only people who left a footprint in the consciousness of the world were aristocrats, politicians, authors and during the later years movie stars.
For world history, recorded history begins with the accounts of the ancient world around the 4th millennium BC (Wikipedia). Carvings, drawings and pictures are how a population and civilization recorded history and let others know they were here.
Selfies are more than a shameless act. They are a way to record moments. But in the bigger scheme of life it’s proof that each person was here. Selfies are photos family and friends can use to remember us when we’re no longer here. And there is nothing like a selfie to capture that private moment of the person at home. Normally we would not have private moments recorded but today selfies give us that opportunity.
Beyonce has undeniably created music that will be shared and played for decades to come. Powerful lyrics like, “I was here… I lived, I loved… I was here” from her song, “I Was Here” make a statement. Selfies do the same thing but in a visual way for a society of people who have lived, loved and did everything they wanted.
Selfie takers are individuals leaving their mark so everyone will know, “I was here.” Selfies tell a story and are memories each and everyone one of us can leave behind.
Not to end on a negative note, there is a downside, however. Taking too many selfies is linked to an actual psychological disorder (Huffington Post) and viewed as an addiction. Like anything else maintaining a healthy relationship, staying mindful and doing things in moderation is when taking a selfie is not a shameless act.
