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Source: LubosHouska

24 Billion. That is not the population in 50 years from today but the factual number reported by Google for the number of selfies uploaded in 2015. Now take into consideration how many selfies were taken that ‘did not make the grade’ to be shared on a social network platform, I would consider it not to be a stretch to think the number would be in excess of 100 billion per year.

Let us theorise into the origins of how this came to be…Over the past few decades, a cultural shift has occurred. Working as part of a team has become unfashionable and the spirit of isolation or ‘entrepreneurial’ was coined. In the UK (for which I am a resident) the old mutt Lady Thatcher changed the ethos of a prior generation and encouraged individualism.

That is part of the problem however you see the device in your hand with which you read this article on (studies now say more people source any desires online via a mobile device as opposed to laptops or desktops, obviously they are missing out on Redtube with this) there lies the fundamental problem.

It is inconceivable to think that almost all people in this day and age have in their pockets at all times a minimum of 2 cameras (Almost all new mobile devices are fitted with cameras on front and back) and quite often even more (today I carried 4 in my bag as in addition to my phone I had an iPad on me). It would be a grandiose statement to suggest that taking photos is not encouraged as a result.

Upon reflection it could have gone a number of ways, the way that it, of course, is with egocentric people taking selfies of menial and mundane experiences such as ‘On the bus innit LOL’ or as a collective we could have become majestic photographers, which today would result in billions of iconic photos of landmarks, nature, majestic beauty…but ego got the better of us.

The person who made the selfie stick should be put down unmercifully. I have not much more to add to the statement, just a personal opinion.

Let me dear reader ask you this, why do I want to see a selfie of a vastly overweight, young lady with a glass of wine in her hand sitting on a sofa? Answer…I don’t. So where does this young, charming lady get the self-righteousness to believe people care to see her mundane life? Television. Shows such as X Factor or Britain’s Got Talent, and to a lesser extent realty shows like TOWIE and the like encourage people to believe in the fallacy that ‘everyone is unique and special’ when in actuality they are not.

1 in 5 children, when interviewed for a case study, stated they wanted to grow up being a ‘celebrity’. Not a celebrity as a result of being an actor or footballer but essentially famous for being famous which is a direct repercussion of trash TV such as Ex on the Fuc*ing Beach or Big Brother.

 

Patrick Suttie

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