A selfie is not just about adoring one’s own reflection like Narcissus; it’s also about taking a picture of that reflection to publish for all the world to see. But am I the only one who rues the cognitive dissonance that has turned self-obsessed showoffs from laughingstocks into standard-bearers of what is now not only acceptable but required public behavior?
You’d never know, for example, that just years ago any self-respecting man would be mortified if he were caught checking himself out in the mirror. Now the Internet is littered with as many selfies of preening men as women. But nothing irritates me in this context quite like the way people convey every private sentiment—from condolences to birthday greetings and romantic love—only by tweeting, facebooking, or instagramming it for everyone to read/see.
(“Introduction,” The iPINIONS Journal, Vol. IX, p. xxi, 2014)
This quote attests that nobody has been more critical of the vapid, venal, vicious world of social media than I.
But nothing betrays its true nature quite like an Instagram superstar making quite a show this week of declaring her intent to quit. Because, after getting the attention (and additional followers) she knew doing so would attract, she used that attention to plead for money … to help her cope with the “real life” she was daring to pursue.
Here is the apparent epiphany she shared on Monday:
Without realising, I’ve spent majority of my teenage life being addicted to social media, social approval, social status and my physical appearance.
It’s a system based on social approval, likes, validation in views, success in followers. It’s perfectly orchestrated self absorbed judgement.
(UK Daily Mail, November 2, 2015)
And here, with context from the Daily Mail, is the existential plea this perfectly orchestrated, self-absorbed twit made on Tuesday:
In a teary 17 minute long video posted to her new website, [this lost girl] – who used to spend more than 50 hours a week strategically constructing an image of a beautiful, happy and carefree teen – explains why she abandoned her ‘celebrity’ social media status and says that without her online income she is no longer able to support herself.
‘I can’t afford rent right now… It’s like I am embarrassed to admit that I need help… if this [website] is of value to you then please support me because I can’t afford my own real life.’
Evidently, girls (and they are mostly girls) on social media have no clue that girls afford their own real lives by getting real jobs – even if that means working at fast-food joints.
Ironically, the unsurprising backlash her plea incited forced her to delete all of her social media accounts … in a self-righteous and petulant huff. But, like crack cocaine, social-media addiction is such that I fully expect her to return for the quick high and easy money girls like her get from their simple (fake) lives.
Moreover, instead of inspiring other Instagram twits to quit, I fear she only provided fodder for them to peddle gossip. Not to mention the opportunity to lure away the gullible fools who followed her.
In any event, the best thing anyone can do to help her cope with real life is to resist publishing her image, or even her name.
Hence this illustrative selfie of Kylie Jenner, the poster girl for all that is so wrong with social media. Her fake lips, fake boobs, and fake butt are the signature traits of what passes for beauty these days. But her doe eyes betray how hollow she must feel inside.
I pity Kylie, and her ilk. And, by the way, you are of that ilk if you’ve ever stared adoringly at the image on your smart phone as you snapped selfies to photoshop for social media. Just know that, like her, you are not impressing anyone … in real life.
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Personal tweet is oxymoron…