The word “selfie” has become a worldwide phenomenon. America, Japan and India have civilians sticking their tongue out at their camera, waiting for bubbly Snapchat features to modify their expressions. China, Korea and Canada have taken leaps with the “selfie-stick” trend, where phones are held by plastic contraptions to extend the selfie range. It seems the whole world is participating in this trend- but what exactly is “the selfie?”

Oxford’s Online Dictionary defines the selfie as: “a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a digital camera or camera phone held in the hand or supported by a selfie stick. Selfies are often shared on social networking services such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. They are usually flattering and made to appear casual. Most selfies are taken with a camera held at arm’s length or pointed at a mirror.”

These new ways to take a self-portrait have taken the world by storm. There are Bluetooth sticks which take your selfies from farther distances, sticks with attached tennis balls so you may always capture your pet’s attention, and even Snapchat filters which let your selfies become alive.

It seems that a good selfie- a picture posted on social media which receives a number of likes and comments- actually has the power to boost one’s self-confidence. According to Adrants.com, when you receive a “like” on a selfie, dopamine releases into your brain. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter which is released when one does rewarding things such as eating Canes or falling in love and mostly eating Canes. Essentially, getting many “likes” on a selfie lets us feel rewarded and incredibly pleased with ourselves.

But, is this a bad thing? Are we becoming more narcissistic because of it?

No, not exactly. If one become so obsessed with “likes” that they crave them every day, and they can’t fall asleep until they hit the 200-mark, then they might be on the road to narcissism-town. But, if you take selfies for self-enjoyment and just decide to share a few here and there, then you are a completely normal high school girl. A girl that can confidently express her identity, creativity and silliness. 

So, go ahead! The next time you’re bored or you can’t describe how you’re feeling in just words, shoot your friend a selfie. Remember, its rule of thumb, that the goofier the selfie sent, the closer you are to the one receiving it. Sending your best pal that picture of you with four chins- she’ll find it just as funny as you do and you’ll feel all the better for doing it.