The selfie mania- what do we really know about it?

Long before Salman Khan gyrated to the selfie in his “le le le selfie le le re!” song in Bajrangi Bhaijan, the selfie was a world phenomenon. Anywhere and everywhere you look, you will find someone obsessing over their face, craning their neck or pouting their mouth posing for that ‘one perfect picture’. Don’t forget the ‘is this good enough stamp of self-approval’ and a million retakes that follow disapproval. The selfie has almost revolutionized the way we take photos. And how!

Although the smartphone has contributed immensely to the epidemic rise of the selfie, it is was actually first taken as early as 1839! Robert Cornelius, an American pioneer in photography took the first picture of man ever taken (so he claimed) when he took a picture of himself. A selfie. The process took much longer than what it takes now and so, he was able to uncover the lens, run into the frame (smile, I suppose!) and come back to replace the lens cap. And so was born ‘The First Light Picture Ever Taken’.  I’m quite certain Robert Cornelius is patting himself in the back this moment, gloating over what he gave the world!

Facebook, Instagram, you name it- pouts are everywhere! Narcissism in its digital avatar. Friendly reminder- we know what you look like, seeing the same you in ten different shades doesn’t make you any more exciting, my friend! And please don’t make me jealous with that picture of your delicious plate of grilled chops ‘#yummyinmytummy’ when I’m surviving with Maggi on my plate for dinner!

But, behind all this frenzy there is a cloud. Are we getting too full of ourselves in this selfie mania, drowning in vanity of what we look like, rather than what we truly are?

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has linked excessive taking of selfies to mental disorders where the sufferers have an obsession about their personal appearance. The APA has categorized this in three levels- borderline (3 selfies a day), acute (posting at least 3 selfies a day) and chronic (posting up to 6 or more selfies a day).

Digital narcissism is an addiction, thriving on the need for praise and validation, when there is in fact, emptiness within. The APA observed that such people are often lonely, with low self-esteem resorting to projecting a picture of themselves to the world of what they might not really be.

Going out is gradually getting reduced to how many selfies we take of ourselves, the number of poses we strike, the food on our plate, hashtags. Real conversations slowly silenced in the rancor of that ‘ready to put on’ smile for the next perfect click.

And while the social media is full of such happy faces and enviable lifestyles, there have been noticeable instances of fatalities caused while taking these selfies. Some of us getting so caught up in the moment, recklessly throwing caution to the wind!

Priceonomics tabulated 49 deaths worldwide on account of selfies since 2014, and the numbers have grown since then. India accounts for a shocking 40% of the worlds percentage of selfie driven deaths forcing the Indian Government to declare 16 no-selfie zones!

In 2015, three Indian college students were trampled to death by a moving train while attempting to take a selfie with it! Recently, a Washington State man accidentally shot a bullet at himself while taking a selfie with his gun (source-Time)- just a few instances out of many. A little self-absorption, way too many unfortunate cases.

Not that anyone designs or predicts their own demise, but even the most unique selfie is definitely not worth a life. Taking selfies by itself is harmless, but being attentive can help prevent a mishap.

This way or that, selfies are here to stay. Gone are the days when poets longed for their muse, everyone is their own muse now- all you need is a selfie click and a Colgate smile!