The outstanding selfie culture : Are you a part of it? 

Taking selfies has become a popular trend among the youth nowadays. What did we all do before the introduction of smartphones? There was a time when youngsters would crave to have a photo of their own or with a bunch of friends. How did we manage to stay without snapping a quick shot in front of a burning building, a funeral or at a temple? Today, the selfie obsession has gone beyond control and it is no surprise if you bump in to someone taking a selfie at a very common or an odd place today. Since this was introduced by the youth, Daily Mirror Life spoke to a few youngsters about this topic.

Akila

“It has become a popular trend. But since we see youngsters taking selfies everywhere they should be more considerate about the place.”

Danushika

“Taking a selfie is alright but taking it everywhere is not appropriate. Places like funerals and temples should strictly be avoided.”

Inuri

“It’s not a problem but sometimes they don’t have a control. Once I saw a photo in Facebook where a group of students singing Bakthi Gee have taken a selfie. There are ethical things to consider when living in a culture like ours.”

Chathun

“The place should be considered when taking selfies. Other than that it is not a problem.”

Ishara

“With the advancement of technology the youth find new things. It is alright to take a photo but the place should be considered.”

Some interesting facts about selfies

1. The first ever selfie dates back to 1839 when a photography enthusiast named Robert Cornelius tried to take a photograph.

2. In 2013, the Oxford Dictionary not only added the word “Selfie” on its database, but also announced it as the word of the year.

3. Even animals are crazy for their looks! In 2011, a photographer, David Slater left his camera for a macaque monkey. The monkey’s self-taken selfie was more popular that Kim Kardashian’s selfie.

4. Ellen Degeneres’ selfie at the Oscars in 2014 became the most retweeted picture ever, superseding President Obama’s selfie. It actually broke the Internet with 3.4 million retweets and over 2 million favourites.

5. The Selfie Stick became hot selling stuff in 2014!

6. Out of all the social media websites, Facebook holds the highest share of uploaded selfies at 48%. A city called Makati in Philippines has the highest number of uploaded selfies with New York as the second.

By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe
Photographs by Nisal Baduge