The phenomenon of the "selfie"—a self-portrait photograph typically taken with a smartphone and shared on social media—has evolved from a niche digital habit into a global cultural pillar. While often dismissed as a mark of narcissism, selfies serve as complex tools for identity construction, social connection, and artistic expression.
Although the term was first coined in an Australian online forum in 2002, the practice of taking self-portraits is as old as photography itself. 2. Selfies
: Modern selfie culture has deep roots in 1990s Japanese kawaii culture, particularly through purikura (photo sticker booths) which allowed for digital manipulation and "beautifying" effects long before modern apps. : Modern selfie culture has deep roots in
: The debut of the front-facing camera on smartphones (notably the iPhone 4 in 2010) and the rise of image-centric platforms like Instagram and Snapchat facilitated the "explosion" of selfie popularity between 2013 and 2014. 2. Selfies