Have you ever wondered why we’re often quick to “like” other people’s selfies, yet we sometimes feel a tinge of embarrassment when we post one of our own? Because the age-old excuse of “well, everyone else is doing it!” doesn’t always cut it, here are four reasons why you should totally post the killer self you just spent an hour picking a filter for.
1. Instant Gratification
In the age of social media, there’s no quicker cure to a temporary bout of feeling less-than-awesome than getting a bunch of likes on a selfie. It may sound egotistical to admit, but because nobody else has the ability to recognize the tiny flaws we fret over, each “like” serves as a little seal of approval. The crooked part of your smile that you always worry about is temporarily forgotten when your best friend comments a heart-eyed emoji under your selfie. Sure, one could always argue that we shouldn’t need to seek the approval of others, but there’s no denying that it feels nice to be “well-liked.” As long as you’ve found a healthy balance between appreciating the instant gratification and needing it to feel okay about yourself, there’s no harm in Instagramming your latest self portrait!
2. Selfies have become a new form of self expression.
The concept of personal style has been around since the beginning of time and the selfie has taken it to a whole other level. It’s in our nature to want to change our appearances to match our personalities and our moods, and taking a selfie after a fresh haircut is the newest way to seal the deal. The changes we choose to make to our bodies are one level of self expression, while the way we choose to exhibit these changes (ie: selfies!) is another in itself. We naturally want to showcase our personalities, and selfies are an easy, fun and harmless way to do exactly that.
3. Selfies are a way to take ourselves less seriously.
Before Instagram and Snapchat became a part of the daily routine, most people would stress over the idea of having a bad photo taken of them. If you’ve ever accidentally opened your phone to the front-facing camera at a bad angle, you’ve learned a fast lesson in humility. (Hello, double chin and strangely shaped forehead.) Nobody looks good all of the time, and seeing bad photos of ourselves reminds us that being caught at the wrong angle isn’t the worst thing that could happen. Sure, an awful photo can be temporarily mortifying, but once we’ve seen them and deleted them, we’re able to overcome the uneasy feeling of being in front of a camera. While there may not be any scientific evidence to back it up just yet, I’d be willing to bet that millennials are much less worried about being photographed than older generations are. (Thanks, selfie!)
4. Selfies instill self confidence.
Just look at Kim Kardashian. Whether you love or hate the selfie-queen, there’s no denying that the woman exudes more self confidence than anyone else. Kim has basically built an empire off of her selfies. Although most people will never achieve the same level of fame from a front cameras as she has, there may be a lesson to be learned from her approach to selfies. Confidence is the key to success, and if snapping a few photos of ourselves can boost our confidence, then so be it! Self confidence can only be a good thing, and there is no shame in feeling good about being yourself!