Selfie-Obsession Teens Raised On The Internet
19August

Selfie-Obsession Teens Raised On The Internet

Written by Frank Samuelson, Posted on , in Section Teens & Tweens

Years ago, the invention of 1-hour photos was a technological phenomenon. Sometimes you would take several quick photos just to use up the last few shots on your camera so that you could finish the roll and get your vacation photos in as little as one hour. Today, instant gratification is an integeral part of America. Teens grow up expecting that whatever they want will happen quickly. With the popularity of smart phones, teens have instant access to photos. The new reverse photo feature on a camera gives teens the instant ability to take self-portraits or "selfies" as the photos have been coined. One of the interesting aspects of Selfies is that they are taken to show the person in their most attractive state. 

How Selfies Affect Emotional Self-Esteem

It's easy to get sucked into the instant access to social media. Teens today have grown up with social media as much as previous generations did with television. The danger can be when teens, typically girls, fall into the category of needing validation. They will take Selfies that can be "liked" or commented on. This may give them an artificial sense of self-esteem. They also learn to seek validation from the opposite sex. Sometimes the need to create a better and sexier photo ups the ante. They may also try to compete with their peers for attention and outdo their photos. This can be a dangerous game as it can also be met with negative responses, which in turm may do more harm than good to a teenagers self-esteem.