Dux student support events invariably include a selfie or two. (Thank heavens for the long arms of Andries!) The advent of smartphones have made selfies so popular that "selfie" was named The Oxford English Dictionary's Word of the Year in 2013. But did you know that the first-ever selfie was by 21-year-old artist Parmigianino in 1524? The more things change, the more they stay the same – “The average age of selfie-takers is 23.6. However, this average may soon take a dip, as preteens are gaining momentum, snapping more digital self-portraits every year.”
The Selfie Phenomenon is Booming
Time did a study which ranked 459 cities according to the number of selfies they produced. The winner of the “Selfie Capital of the World” award goes to Makati City in the Philippines, with Manhattan and Miami as close contenders for the title.
Business-minded Dux will also have noticed that selfies have generated a big-bux selfie product market from selfie sticks and remote controls, to high-tech selfie drones.
Are Selfies Fake News?
If not fake news, more than half of selfies are alternative facts. A recent study revealed that 68% of selfie-takers admitted to editing their photos before sharing.
As this pressure to appear perfect in selfies increases, so selfie-takers have been linked to narcissism and other mental health issues such as obsessive compulsive disorder, dysmorphic disorder, or depression.
Selfies, Narcissism, and Low Self-Esteem
Is it really all that bad? Surely there is a difference between a selfie obsession and simply taking a selfie? The answer lies in the purpose and frequency of posting selfies:
Harmless Selfie Taking:
- are taken infrequently
- include other people, animals, or landmarks
- share something useful or positive
Harmful Selfie Taking:
- can become an addiction if self-worth is measured by the number of “likes” received
- can hurt relationships because posting too many selfies makes people like the selfie-poster less
- can hurt job prospects because too many selfies may create an impression of narcissism
No Selfies Day
March 16 is No Selfies Day. Before you check yourself into “selfie-rehab”, we challenge you to go without taking a selfie for a full 24 hours this Friday. Are you up for it!?
Dux
Get your Dux in a row. Contact us today to join the select group of academics who get student support which, among other things, teaches you true self-worth which is more than selfie-deep.
“Dux dʌks noun
The top pupil in a school or class.”
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