The Selfie
The act of taking a ‘selfie’ has become such a huge phenomenon over time and over social media. The selfie is an image that is taken by ourselves or with others, using our mobile devices, and posted online, be it Facebook, twitter etc, and is used as a representation of ourselves, what we do, where we’ve been and what we’ve seen. There are a few aspects of the selfie I’d like to discuss:
What makes a good selfie?
A good selfie is completely dependent on the creator. What exactly is the situation? Who will see the photo? Where will it be posted? How will it be used? These are all questions that determine what makes a selfie ‘good’, based upon how it will be used as a representation of you. For me, a lot of my selfies are taken with my friends and family, so they’re more casual rather than serious, and I don’t put much time or effort into preparing for the photo, I just take it.
What are the drivers of selfie culture?
Selfie culture is driven by a multitude of things. A big part of selfie culture are the people who take selfies, mostly the younger demographic, who are highly active and consistent on social media. Selfies are considered a way of representing yourself, who you are, what you look like. On sites like Facebook, you are asked to set a profile picture, to let others know who you are. Selfie ‘trends’ also come and go, like the ‘duck face’ or the use of a selfie stick.
How does age, gender, culture and more influence our actions and perceptions of the selfie?
As previously mentioned, a large number of people taking selfies are situated within the younger demographic, and the selfie is considered a necessity. Some people put a lot of dedication into their selfies, be it lighting, background, makeup etc. to be sure that they post the perfect selfie. More often than not, women are the ones who put more attention into their selfies than men. There are many different perceptions of the selfie, and these are just a few.