Selfie was 2013’s word of the year. The Oxford dictionary describes it as “another word for self portrait photograph using a hand-held or phone camera.” Recently a selfie inclined friend was asking me if some of her selfie pictures were good; being the somehow awkward fellow I am, such a question gets a blunt response. Immediately, I said “you not really photogenic but you are beautiful.” Seeing how down she felt about my response, I said “you know some people are not beautiful but photogenic and vice versa.” I got her to smile again.
The word ‘selfie’ has flooded the social media sphere for years. This new rave brought some baggages with it. It introduced a new era of social platforms which rides on pictures. Instagram is fast becoming most popular selfie social media platform. Most of it users post a self portrait of themselves. Many years ago, I use my webcam to take personal pictures of myself but with the infiltration of mobile phones, it has taken the selfie vibe to a whole new level.
It is not quite obvious to people that millions of people all over the world are selfie addicts. Yes, addicts. I
have seen people on several occasion taking a selfie by the road side, at events even in traffic. I think it’s selfie craze. When is a selfie too much?
Danny Bowman, 19, spent 10 hours a day taking up to 200 snaps of himself on his iPhone. He dropped out of school, didn’t leave his house in six months, lost two stone trying to make himself look better for the camera and became aggressive with his parents when they tried to stop him. Finally, in a drastic attempt to escape his obsession, Danny took an overdose – but was saved by his mum Penny.
In another case, a young Mexican man died after accidentally shooting himself in the head while posing for a “selfie” with a loaded gun. Oscar Otero Aguilar is said to have been drinking with friends in Medero, in the north of the capital, Mexico City, when the accident happened. A follower of the ‘selfie’ craze in which people pose for photographs they take of themselves - Otero Aguilar frequently posted pictures of himself on social media sites. However, early in August, a Polish man and woman taking selfies at the cliffs of Cabo Da Roca in Portugal on Saturday fell to their deaths. How do people become selfie addicts?
- Inferiority complex: A good number of people that take selfie feel inferior within. “Am I beautiful enough?” “How perfect do I look?” See, no one looks perfect. Your self portrait doesn’t depict how good you look. Looking beautiful comes from within not from outside. The only reason Danny took some many pictures was because he was looking for the perfect selfie. In fact the best of a self picture are the pictures taken without your knowledge.
- Third party opinion: If you want to hear what people will say about your selfie before you will feel cool with yourself; then you need help. What if you get a negative comment? Will you take a better selfie? As majority of Instagram users are becoming selfie addicts and seeking attention from comments and likes they need to watch it.
- Expensive fun: I’ve seen people taking selfie while in traffic and then caught up in moment. The green comes on and the car behind blasts with the horn. Some people even take a moment to have a selfie while driving.
- Identify the craving: What makes you want to take a selfie? Once you identify your selfie craving, you’re about to make a change.
- Identify the satisfaction: What’s feeling do you get after taking a selfie? Most of addicts long for the satisfaction of their habit which triggers their craving; same with self addicts. Having identified the reward, take the final step.
- Identify a substitute for selfie: If you long for the reward you get for selfie, get a new routine that will give you same satisfaction you get for taking selfies.
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