Selfies: You’re Doing It Wrong

Do you have to look at yourself in your picture of yourself?

So it’s official! “Selfie” has made it into the Oxford (Online) Dictionary. Considering it’s one whole syllable shorter than “self portrait” I can only imagine how much time we’re saving. Of course, self portraits are nothing new. What is thought to be the first photographic portrait (or the first successful one anyway) was indeed a self portrait. It’s practically our cultural duty to take selfies, right? Social media and smartphones have only made it easier to take and share selfies. But there’s a problem.

Okay, it’s not really a problem, but I certainly have a problem with it, and maybe you do too. Let’s see if you can spot it. (Side note: I don’t want to pick on anyone in particular or link pictures without permission, so I’m using pictures of myself. I apologize in advance.) Check out these examples:

I call this one “Selfie #1"

The second in the series. “Selfie #2" You saw that I apologized, right?

Do you see it? These are your run-of-the-mill bathroom mirror selfies. You’ve probably seen hundreds of similar pictures (albeit featuring better-looking people). Other than the obvious similarities because the pictures were taken seconds apart, can you spot a common theme? Despite the fact that I’m looking at my phone in one picture and looking at the mirror in the other, I’m looking at the same thing in both: myself.

That’s my problem.

I can’t believe how many selfies I come across on the internet wherein the subject is looking at him/herself. Mind you, smartphone camera lenses are pretty small…maybe it’s too difficult to look at the lens while taking a picture. You know what could solve this problem? A front-facing camera! You only have to divert your focus an inch or two to look into the lens of a front-facing camera. Most smartphones even give you a handy countdown to let you know exactly when the picture will be taken! But despite this, I still see many front-facing camera selfies that look like this:

I can feel you getting sick of my face. “Selfie #3"

Okay, so now I’m looking in the general direction of the camera lens, but I’m still obviously focused on my phone’s screen, which is just filled with me.

Now, please permit me a few disclaimers:

I know there’s nothing wrong with taking a picture of yourself. There’s nothing wrong with taking a picture of yourself in which you are not looking at the camera lens. There’s no “right way” to take a selfie, and indeed, the subject of what is arguably the first selfie (same link as above) doesn't appear to be looking directly into the camera lens. Some of the most compelling self portraits have subjects that aren’t looking at the camera lens. I’m not interested in telling you or anyone else what to do or what not to do.

That having been said, can we please agree to stop this nonsense? Why is it so common? Are we self-obsessed? Probably some of us are, but I want to believe that isn’t the case on a large scale. Presumably, at least part of the reason we share pictures of ourselves is for the benefit of others. Even if the purpose of the picture is to draw attention to yourself, the picture itself is still there to be seen by others. Why not look at the intended audience?

Can’t we pry our eyes off of ourselves for just a few seconds?

Looking at the camera for “Selfie #4" & “Selfie #5"

A less polished version of this—whatever this is—appeared on my blog. Yes, there was actually a less polished version.