Stop the Selfie….our final plea

Throughout this semester our blog has given you a few of the many reasons why we believe that young people should stop taking selfies and live in the moment. We have shared stories about how selfies can open the door to being a victim of cyber-bullying. We have discussed the dangerous trend of taking selfies while driving. We have shown you statistics that prove taking inappropriate and excessive selfies can ruin your chances of getting that dream job. We have also demonstrated that there are proven links between selfie obsession and immaturity, insecurity, and even mental health problems. All of these reasons should give even the most obsessed selfie-taker reason to pause before snapping that next picture.

I know that most of you are probably thinking to yourselves, I take a selfie now and then, but I am not obsessed and this blog doesn’t apply to me! We like to think of it this way, every minute that you are snapping a selfie, texting, or checking social media is another minute that you are not living life to its fullest. Put down the phone, lift up your eyes, and Seize the Day!

According to a study done by College Quarterly, the average college student spends over 16 hours per week on social media, that’s more time than they spend on any other activity including studying. That is 16 hours that could have been spent talking to people, playing sports, enjoying the outdoors, or any other activities that require you to look up from your mobile device and engage with the world.

http://www.collegequarterly.ca/2013-vol16-num01-winter/huang-capps.html

In fact, according to lifehack.org, if you give up selfies your life will improve in the following ways:

• You Will Be More In The Moment
• Your Self Image Will Be Healthier
• You Will Listen Better
• Your Mental State Will Improve
• You Will Be More Secure
• You Will Have A Better Attitude
• You Will Have A Real Definition Of Beauty
• You Will Be Less Offended By Negativity

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/when-you-stop-posting-selfies-these-10-things-will-happen.html

So please, stop the selfies. Make the most of your life, live in the moment, and be healthier because of it. It may seem difficult at first, but the rewards will last a lifetime.

Ok, so hopefully you have taken our blog to heart and are re-thinking your selfie obsession.   For those of you reading this that are still on the fence and not convinced that you can stop, we have saved perhaps our most compelling argument for last. What celebrities post excessive numbers of selfies on twitter? Miley Cyrus, Kim Kardashian, and Justin Bieber……..nuff said? I would think so….

Green Jacket Selfie

http://www.cbssports.com/golf/eye-on-golf/25148624/look-jordan-spieth-takes-selfie-on-empire-state-building

New Master’s Champion Jordan Spieth wore his new green jacket as he snapped a selfie atop the Empire State Building in NYC. This guy is on top of the world (in many senses of the word), and the young gold champ is showing the world his cocky side by posting this glamorous selfie.

Spieth, you just won our hearts on Sunday. Couldn’t you wait a little while before breaking them with this cheesy selfie? Come on, we didn’t think you were the vain type.

Apple Bans Selfie Sticks

http://money.cnn.com/2015/04/14/technology/apple-selfie-sticks/index.html?iid=HP_River

In an announcement about their WWDC Developers Conference, Apple also released that no selfie sticks will be permitted at the event. Apple reports: “You may not use selfie sticks or similar monopods” at the event, Apple’s policy reads. “Any attendee conducting these activities may be removed from WWDC.”

So, why not? Some suggest it is for liability purposes and to avoid any injuries that could be caused by people swinging these things around. Some speculation suggests that Apple ousted the selfie stick from their event because they are simply a nuisance. And to this speculation, #stoptheseflie says: hooray!

We agree, Apple. These accessories are obnoxious and unnecessary, and we’re behind you all the way. One small step for Apple, one large step to #stoptheseflie.

Can taking selfies ruin your chances of getting a job?

It’s hard enough to find a job these days and many job applicants may not be aware that it is a common practice among potential employers to scan social media channels to help them make hiring decisions.  In fact, a recent survey by market analyst On Device Research indicates that 91% of hiring managers use social media to screen job applicants.

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/06/04/applicants-rejected-social-media-on-device-research/

Not only are employers using social media to screen applicants, they are basing hiring decisions on what they find.  The same study found that 1 in 10 applicants are rejected based on negative information that potential employers have observed on social media.  Even with these compelling statistics, 70% of Americans surveyed between the ages of 18 and 34 indicated that they were not concerned about social media hurting their chances of landing a job. That is a huge disconnect.

Most potential job applicants know enough to realize that before they apply for a job they need to go online and clean-up their social media and remove all incriminating pictures that show them drinking, using drugs, or engaging in other illegal behavior.  However, just removing incriminating pictures from social media may not be enough to ensure prospective employers that you have the maturity to fit in the workplace.

Most employers know exactly what they are looking for in an employee, and you may not realize that even the innocent selfie pictures and comments you post are actually telling employers a lot about who you are and how you think.  For example, an applicant may be surprised to learn that the smiling selfie they posted while touring Auschwitz, or the duck face selfie with the burning building in the background both indicated to a potential employer that the applicant was immature and exercised poor judgment. In addition to the types of selfies that show disrespect for sacred places and tragic events, the total number of selfies a job candidate has posted also says a lot to an employer.

In addition to wanting an employee who is mature, most companies also seek out employees that are confident and self-assured. What does it tell an employer if they observe an applicant posted 15 selfies a day in different outfits? According to Psychology Today, it indicates that the person is insecure, a narcissist, and in constant need of affirmation; which is probably not the kind of person an employer wants to deal with on a daily basis.   http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/selfies-affecting-chances-hired/

The bottom line is that every job applicant should take a look at their social media channels and view them from the perspective of a potential employer. What are your pictures and posts saying about you as a person? Are you mature, responsible, self-confident, and respectful of authority? If not, then you should consider what we have been suggesting throughout this blog, have the confidence to “Stop-The-Selfie” and live your life in the moment without the distraction of social media.

Runner Snaps Selfie Before Winning First Place- In Race, and Photography Contest

Photo of Runner Snapping Selfie Snags Prestigious Photojournalism Prize

A cross country runner caught the attention of a prestigious photojournalism prize when she snapped a selfie of himself winning 1st place in a cross country race. A photo of 17 year old Jacob Gillingham won first place in the sports category awarded by NPPA (National Press Photographers Association).

Photojournalist Troy Wayrynen took a photo of Gillingham taking a photo of himself, and the image won first place. Now, were not sure if this photo won because of the irony of it: a selfie is hardly award-winning photography. Or did it win because judges think the self-promoting runner deserved to take a picture of himself? The photo (of the selfie) is hardly award-winning quality, yet, by awarding it first place, the NPPA seems to be praising the vanity and selfishness that selfies represent

. 

Seems like the last thing you should be thinking while finishing a footrace is “oh I should definitely take a selfie of myself winning”. That my friend, is what the sports photographers are for, in the first place. Pun intended.

Using Selfies to Fight Bullying?

http://www.people.com/article/kim-zolciak-bikini-selfie-instagram-i-love-food-photo

Real Housewives of Atlanta Star Kim Zolciak posted a bikini selfie to her Instagram after one of her previous posts received criticism over her body. The start posted the selfie with the caption “I love food #DessertEspecially” followed by many food emojis.

We think this is an interesting way of using a selfie. Zolciak seems to be fighting her haters by using something that we consider very vain: a selfie. When followers called her hateful words such as “chunky” and “thick”, Zolciak used social media, and more specifically, a selfie, to show pride in her body.

And to this, we say: Kudos Kim! She has successfully taken a selfie and spun it into something positive. Promoting positive body image and confidence are some of the reasons we started this blog, and we applaud her pride in her own body and fearless use of social media.

If You Didn’t Take a Selfie… Did It Even Happen?

Opening Day Selfie! Ashton and Mila Goof Off at the Dodgers Game

Celebrity couple Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher posted a selfie of them at opening day of the Dodgers Game yesterday, feeding into their drooling fans obsession with their whereabouts. The couple and new parents posted the cute picture on Facebook during the game yesterday.

Celebrities seem to be posting selfies of everything these days. Whether it be driving, shopping at the grocery store, or on a lavish vacation, celebrities want everyone to know what they’re doing. Which begs the question… If a celebrity doesn’t take a photo of them doing something, did they really even do it? Celebrities seem to be caught up in the fad of selfies just as much as their adoring fans. They are removed from the moments of their famous lives, and instead are obsessed with updating their jealous fans of their actions. Celebrities are vain in this way, wanting everyone to be jealous of what they are doing, who they are with, or how they look. Do we think these two watched much baseball? Or was more time spent choosing a filter? You can guess as you please.

Prince Harry Says No to Selfies

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2015/apr/07/selfie-prince-harry-died-in-2015-selfie-stick

According to an article released today by The Guardian, UK Royal Prince Harry declined to take a selfie with a fan in Australia last week. The source reports that Harry responded: “No, I hate selfies … I know you’re young, but selfies are bad. Just take a normal photograph.”

So, what does this mean for our selfie obsessed culture? Maybe having a popular figure express disapproval of selfies will discourage the larger general public to stop taking them, as well. Prince Harry does have a large following, specifically a large crowd of teen and young women because they praise his looks and bachelor-status. Perhaps having their idol put the selfie down will encourage his fans to “take a normal photograph”.

The Dangers of Selfies and Driving

There is no disputing the fact that our society is obsessed with cell phones and social media.  This obsession has fueled a disturbing new trend that combines our love of social media and driving in a way that is challenging the safety of everyone that shares our roads.  That trend is taking a “selfie”, or self-portrait with a cellphone, while driving a motor vehicle.   Most people are well aware of the dangers of talking on cell phones or texting while driving, but few people are aware of just how big a danger selfie takers are posing to our safety.   The practice of taking selfies while driving seems to be widespread. On Instagram alone the hashtag #driving has over 3.0 million entries, and the variations #drivingselfie, #drivinghome, and #drivingtowork are also posting big numbers.  (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/31/instagram-while-driving_n_4181120.html)

Not only are millions of selfies being posted while people are driving, the fact is that only a fraction of the selfies taken is even counted in these statistics. Think about in your own life how many times you have taken, deleted, and re-taken a selfie just to get a picture you like? Now imagine doing that while driving a car! It is bad enough when drivers take their eyes off the road to text or make a phone call; it’s a whole other level of distraction when drivers are posing for the camera then editing the pictures to make sure they look good.

Clearly the biggest danger from taking selfies while driving is the potential to be distracted and cause an accident that injures someone or destroys property. Since the “selfie while driving” phenomenon is still fairly new, there are no statistics that specifically track accidents caused by taking selfies. However, statistics are kept on accidents caused by “distracted drivers” which includes activities such as making calls and texting while driving. Accidents caused by “distracted drivers” have been on the rise for the last several years and the United States Department of Transportation estimates that over 420,000 people are injured each year by distracted drivers. (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/distracted_driving_and_teen_safety/index.htm)

What can we do to reduce these statistics and make our roads safer for everyone? We need every state to pass a law that completely bans the use of hand-held mobile devices while driving, but currently only 14 states have such laws on the books. Forty-five states have adopted laws that specifically prohibit texting while driving, but the language of the laws is so specific to texting that it would not allow a policeman to give a ticket to a person seen taking a selfie. The only way to ensure that a mobile device cannot be used in any distracting way is to completely ban drivers from using them while operating a motor vehicle. Laws are always slow to keep pace with new technology, but in the case of the selfie, it is critical that the public is made aware of the issue and laws are put in place to protect society from distracted drivers. (http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html)

Andreas Lubitz Selfie

After the tragic Germanwings crash that occurred over the Alps last week, it quickly emerged that the crash had been done intentionally by the co-pilot, Andres Lubitz. Reports this week later revealed that Lubitz suffered mental health issues such as depression and was on medication. A selfie of Lubitz smiling in the mirror surfaced on the internet this week as it was taken only days before and he seems to be calm and content.

http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2015/03/killer-german-pilot-andreas-lubitz-seen-taking-selfie/