Why I love Selfies–An opinion piece by Muhammad Raza

 Why I love Selfies–An opinion piece by Muhammad Raza

Few trends are as popular or ever-lasting as the trend of selfies. The influence of this simple action of taking a picture of yourself has spread and become ingrained in nearly all platforms of social media and pop culture you see today, and is also an action that millions upon millions partake in every day. Despite initially seeming like a silly fad, the significance of selfies cannot be neglected. While some may argue that selfies merely serve the purpose of being a tool to document history and achievements on an individual level, they are actually much more complex. And ultimately, despite them having the potential to bring upon negative effects (such as magnifying and revealing one’s lust for attention), I believe that selfies are a great way to foster relatability and camaraderie, and exemplify the significant achievements and milestones that you achieve throughout your life.

Selfies are important because they can be used to increase relatability and camaraderie. One of the best ways to strengthen a bond with someone you care about, in my opinion, is to take multiple pictures with them in the form of selfies. Taking a selfie with a friend or a group of friends not only forms positive memories but also is a means of becoming closer together through the joy of taking a shared picture. One of the ways that I’ve grown closer with my friends is by taking loads of pictures with them at social gatherings, school events, and more, showing how this simple act of taking a picture together has so much potential to better your relationship with someone. It may not seem like a big deal, but taking selfies is a great way to grow closer with those you care about and should not be written off as something silly or childish.

Selfies are amazing ways to signify and represent key achievements of one’s life. The phrase “a picture speaks a thousand words” is one that is no better to be applied to a situation than taking selfies: taking a picture of yourself following an intense workout, emotional game, or big event is one of the best ways to show what your actions mean to you and how important your goals are. Looking back at selfies like this makes you appreciate what you have done in the past, and can increase your confidence while bringing a smile to your lips. Such selfies are much more than just documenting your life, as they are directly connected with the experience that occurred prior to you taking that picture. As someone who likes to take selfies, I’ve taken these pictures of myself at successful track meets, following important exams, graduations, and other ceremonies, and all of these pictures are a way for me to look back at how much I’ve grown and what I’ve accomplished. Personally, they are a means for me to both build my confidence in my achievements and mark significant events in my life for me to be proud of. 

Selfies are versatile tools:  they can be used to form bonds, create memories, recall key experiences, and show the importance of your achievements. While yes, they are often used in the wrong manner and at times represent the shallowness and excessive exhibitionism that is common in this day and age, they are nevertheless great tools that, if used properly, can be something much more powerful than just another way to mark an important date.