One of the more popular words we saw in social media last year was the “selfie.” What is a selfie? Well, a selfie according to the Oxford Dictionary is “a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.”
We have seen many people take selfies of themselves while they are doing some extraordinary and even ordinary activities. It is a way to present ourselves visually to the social media community. Whether it is taking pictures at concerts, games, or even space – we have seen a range of how selfies have captured the world just in the last couple of years. The history and evolution of the selfie is something to also consider as well – it’s amazing how with just a few advances (ex. iPhone camera, Instagram, etc) how one action and term has become a global phenomenon and word in pop culture and society.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFkm1Hg4dTI[/youtube]
With this in mind, Dove has taken a stance on the selfie and focused on how it is a way to showcase beauty to others on social media. This video is going to be launched at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival, and I think the message that it presents with teens and their moms is pretty powerful. I felt the story looking at what the teenagers were discussing in terms of social media and beauty, and how they were able to participate in this experience with their moms was quite compelling. It goes to show you that every person is unique and beautiful – we have to look at this ourselves and realize that we are not all the same, but that is what makes us special.
In essence, how we present ourselves does define how others do perceive us – but what we have to consider is that there is a bridge that connects both of these perceptions together. We have to make sure we are the same way offline as we are online. If we bode confidence online, we have to do so online. Our selfies do reflect what makes us all unique, beautiful, and overall fabulous! However, there are some that think selfies may have been overdone or communicate other elements of people. Of course, there is a time and place for selfies, but if you are happy and living life to the fullest – what’s the problem?
Even as a professor – I have taken selfies on multiple occasions and I think that it is one way to say – hey! This is me and here’s what I am doing!
A selfie of me surviving the Polar Vortex in KY [-30 degree wind chill!]
A coffee/travel selfie – a regular one for me!
Of course there has to be a selfie w/ Google Glass, which makes a Glassie, right?
Hope you all are having a great day!
Best Wishes,
Karen
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