You may be wondering “Why don’t they just ask someone to take a picture of them?” Two reasons why:
1. That would require communication with a stranger. The situation could get creepy/awkward/weird/uncomfortable.
2. The stranger would only take one picture. A selfie stick allows you to take an infinite amount so you can pick the best photo for your facebook/tinder that actually looks very little like you on a normal day.
American social skills have devolved so much asking a stranger to take your picture is awkward.
The selfie stick reveals how social values have changed. Taking pictures used to be a social occasion. You took pictures because you wanted to commemorate a great time you had with friends—a wedding, a family reunion, a great party, a stunning vacation, etc. Now pictures are something you use to get friends by projecting an interesting life through social media.
This is how social media isolates us. While a timeline full of perfectly framed selfies might look better than the candid photo your buddy snaps, it isn’t the same social experience. Asking your friends to take a picture means having a shared experience, whereas taking a selfie requires self-conscious focus. Instead of enjoying the moment, you’re thinking “will this look good on Instagram?”
Full story:
http://www.returnofkings.com/39946/have-we-reached-peak-narcissism-with-the-selfie-stick
