By: Bowen Wang

Selfies are cool to take if they are both safe and display beautiful scenes, but they can become very dangerous if you get hurt. A 2016 study reported that more than 93 million of all the photos that people take of themselves on their phones are selfies. And that number continues to grow every day as more and more people get phones. People take selfies anywhere — from famous landmarks to their couch posing with their friends. Most of these photos end up on social media sites, where friends and family can see them. Typically, selfies are an entertaining way to share experiences. However, recent research suggests that their effects can sometimes be negative.

A recent study suggests that taking and posting a lot of selfies may cause psychological harm. When people take selfies, they become more aware of themselves and how they look. Although sometimes this can be a good thing, when people do not like what they see in the selfie, they often take more and more photos, trying to get the “perfect” one. This search for perfection can result in decreased confidence. The study reported that some people begin to feel bad about themselves after taking many selfies. While taking and posting a few selfies here and there can improve relationships by helping friends stay connected via social media, when people do so excessively, their relationships can be negatively impacted. Their friends may begin to feel annoyed if it seems as if the person is too self-centered, which can create problems in the friendship.

Taking selfies can sometimes cause physical harm as well. This happens when people try to take selfies in dangerous places. They want to impress their friends with a photo from the top of a tall building or by the side of a busy road, for example. Sometimes they pay more attention to the photo than to their own safety. Between 2011 and 2018, more than 250 people died while trying to take a selfie. Many more were injured. Sometimes it is better just to enjoy a beautiful place and put the phone away rather than try to take an impressive selfie.

Taking selfies has become more and more popular over time, and it is not likely that people will stop taking them. However, people who take selfies should be aware that their effects can sometimes be negative. They should be careful where and how they take their selfies and pay attention to how many they post. With this awareness, they can keep the selfie trend positive and fun.