Vanity is timeless. As long as there’s been a way to capture images, some ass hat person has used it for horn-tooting and self-gratification.
We’re all guilty of taking selfies — but where did the trend begin?
1. The First Selfie Ever
According to the Library of Congress, the oldest selfie photograph was taken by Robert Cornelius in 1839. Based on the technology of the time, he would have had to remain motionless for 3 to 15 minutes to take it.
The back of the photo apparently reads “The first light picture ever taken,” which the Library of Congress officially translates* to: “New bob cut for the summer! #oops #sorrynotsorry #blessed.”
2. The Word “Selfie” Was Coined by a Drunk Australian
The Oxford English Dictionary, which inducted “selfie” into its collection in 2013, claims the word was first coined by a drunk Australian man on a web forum in 2002.
While showing off a cut on his lip, the man wrote:
“Um, drunk at a mates 21st, I tripped ofer [sic] and landed lip first (with front teeth coming a very close second) on a set of steps. I had a hole about 1cm long right through my bottom lip. And sorry about the focus, it was a selfie.”
3. The Man in the Mirror
It’s genetically guaranteed that your face isn’t 100% symmetrical — but don’t worry! The only exception to that rule is Denzel Washington. Period.
We’re used to seeing our face in mirrors — which is why some selfies might appear strange to us if the photo app doesn’t flip the image.
4. Tilt Ya Head
A study of selfie behavior in five different cities around the world found that women in Sao Paulo tilt their head an average of 16.9 degrees when taking selfies. Women in New York, however, only tilt 7.9 degrees.
Women in Minneapolis showed no tilt at all. The survey cited frozen neck bones as the reason.
5. More Selfies Make You Less Likeable
A recent psychological study indicates that the more selfies you share on social media, the less likeable you become. Posting too many selfies can alienate your friends and reduce the intimacy of your relationships.
Thankfully, there’s an easy cure: Stop taking so many damn selfies.
Source: Mashable