Selfies: Look Good on the Screen, But Cost You Behind the Scenes

The days when teenage girls took Polaroid shots of themselves at home and hung them up in their lockers has long been over. Today’s generation takes copious amounts of selfies - they post them on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and more. As the use of selfies has become increasingly popular, especially amongst teenagers, the impact it is having on mental health, relationships, and overall satisfaction is becoming more and more noticeable.

While taking selfies may seem like a harmless activity, it has been found to have some negative consequences, including poorer self-image, obsession with physical appearance, and even depression. Spending so much time “editing”, sizing, and cropping photos can lead to unrealistic body image ideas and expectations. This can, in turn, lead to low self-esteem and, in some cases, eating disorders.

It isn’t only poor self-image that can arise from frequent selfie taking. Interpersonal relationships can also be adversely affected. Studies have been done that suggest that those who take more selfies are actually more likely to suffer from jealousy, depression, and insecurity. When people take these kinds of photos, they often feel the need to compare their image to other people, which can cause feelings of inadequacy and damage self-confidence and self-esteem.

Taking selfies can even have an effect on overall satisfaction in life. By constantly posting about oneself and trying to show off a perfect life and body, one can forget about the little things in life that truly make a difference and bring joy. Rather than spending time living in the moment or connecting with family or friends, people become obsessed with basing their self-worth on what other people think about their posts. Moreover, subscribing to trends to appear cool or attractive becomes an empty pursuit.

Ironically, the attempts to showcase one’s beauty through selfies might be doing the opposite. Selfies proliferate a culture where attractiveness is based on our physical features, rather than on who we are inside. Most people focus on how they look instead of who they are. In a society that constantly stereotypes and sets rigid standards of beauty, emotional insecurities and body image issues are rife.

Despite social media providing the ability to connect with people around the world, it can create a false narrative. People tend to compare themselves with others and feel inadequate in the process. Sharing too many selfies can be detrimental to one’s sense of wellbeing and self-worth. It has become easy to become caught in a cycle of participating in activities for the purpose of taking pictures ONLY to share it online, rather than doing something for the purpose itself.

It is important to remember that taking selfies is not a bad thing. It can be a fun way to capture special moments. However, moderation is key. The effort to show off one’s beauty must not come at the cost of one’s mental health, relationships, and overall satisfaction in life. Taking selfies should be treated as more of a hobby; less of a habit.