We’ve all seen it happen. You’re out having a lovely walk in the park, at an event or in a shop when someone jumps out in front of you arm aloft, phone held high, and snaps themselves.

This is the, ‘selfie’. Although adored by many there are others for whom it is intrusive and, potentially, offensive.

Only last week 23-year old University graduate, Eleanor Hawkins, from Derby, spent three nights in jail for taking a naked picture of herself on the sacred mountain of Mount Kinabalu in Borneo.

Local people, who believe the mountain is where old souls go after death to await emancipation, believed the actions of the young Brit, together with other backpackers, set off an earthquake a few days later where 18 lost their lives.

Having served her sentence Hawkins was then deported from the country.

Selfies can, of course, be fun. And they can be intrusive and obsessive.  So maybe, before you take your next selfie, consider our five point guide.

Enjoy the moment

Taking lots of selfies means you spend precious moments of your life concerned with your appearance to others. Instead of reaching for a phone, look up and enjoy the moment, the place and the people. You’ll find you feel much more fulfilled.

You’re beautiful as you are

The filter button may make for a flattering self portrait, but IRL (in real life), being present and attentive to the people you are with and confident and content with your natural self will lead to a much higher sense of self esteem.

Great social media is about much more than showing off

Think about the social media updates you enjoy reading most. Chances are the posts you like are engaging and inclusive rather than bragging or self-promoting.
Use your social media account to connect with other people and communicate a message about who you are at your core, not how well you pose in front of the camera.

Science confirms that taking selfies can lead to higher rates of social isolation

A scientific study conducted by three leading business schools found that people who posted a higher than average amount of selfies also scored much lower on the scale of intimacy with people in their life. It’s definitely hard to tell which behaviour is the cause and which the consequence, but it’s food for thought next time you reach for the selfie stick.

When was the last time you really enjoyed seeing someone’s selfie?

Ask yourself honestly when you have ever looked at a selfie that someone has posted and genuinely ‘liked’ it? Before you post any social media update, pause and take a moment to ask if it is relevant and interesting to your audience, or only to yourself.

Top tip: Still think selfies are great? That’s fine. Social media is all about showing your personality after all. But here’s the tip,  if you think a selfie shows the best of who you are and is great entertainment for you audience, consider making the style more social by including other people, asking for suggestions from your followers or including amazing back drops.

Image courtesy of Paško Tomić via Flickr.
See original.
Attribution 2.0 generic.