"Two out of three of all the patients who come to see me with Body Dysmorphic Disorder [BDD] since the rise of camera phones have a compulsion to repeatedly take and post selfies on social media sites." This quote by Dr. David Veal from an article by Alexa Erickson holds a lot of weight about how technology can influence mental stability.
People with BDD obsess over their physical flaws that are most likely unnoticeable to other people. Since the introduction of cell phones capable of producing self-captured images, BDD has become not only more common but arguably more dangerous. In fact, the act of capturing the right selfie where a perceived flaw is unseen can consume some people's lives. One report reveals that a teenager spent almost an entire day trying to take the right selfie before giving up and attempting suicide.
The leading suspected causes behind BDD are brain differences, genes, and environment. Given the current culture where everyone everywhere is always taking selfies and posting them on social media where they sometimes get hundreds if not thousands of likes, it's not too difficult to imagine how this environment could lead to BDD. If left untreated, BDD could lead to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts or behavior. And while there is no exact way to prevent it, starting treatment at an early age could be highly beneficial.
Even people without BDD are still obsessed with capturing selfies that can get a lot of attention online. Some have put themselves in dangerous situations for a perfectly unique selfie, but that doesn't always end well. People have died from falling, electrocution, drowning, weapons, and animals to names a few, all in the name of selfies.
In an article about whey people need 'likes' on social media by Chemmie Squier, psychologist Dr. Max Blumberg reveals, "People have always needed approval because human beings are social creatures". While the need for approval has seemingly always been there, it has no doubt been magnified by selfies. In 2015, there were reportedly 1,000 selfies posted to instagram every 10 seconds.
The leading suspected causes behind BDD are brain differences, genes, and environment. Given the current culture where everyone everywhere is always taking selfies and posting them on social media where they sometimes get hundreds if not thousands of likes, it's not too difficult to imagine how this environment could lead to BDD. If left untreated, BDD could lead to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts or behavior. And while there is no exact way to prevent it, starting treatment at an early age could be highly beneficial.
Even people without BDD are still obsessed with capturing selfies that can get a lot of attention online. Some have put themselves in dangerous situations for a perfectly unique selfie, but that doesn't always end well. People have died from falling, electrocution, drowning, weapons, and animals to names a few, all in the name of selfies.
In an article about whey people need 'likes' on social media by Chemmie Squier, psychologist Dr. Max Blumberg reveals, "People have always needed approval because human beings are social creatures". While the need for approval has seemingly always been there, it has no doubt been magnified by selfies. In 2015, there were reportedly 1,000 selfies posted to instagram every 10 seconds.
The above chart depicts the rise in popularity for selfies during 2013, and it has only grown since.
A lot can be said about how selfies are bad for you. They can cause you to become depressed or even narcissistic. But at the end of the day, there will always be a lot of people who simply have fun with it. Not everyone who takes selfies suffers for it, just as not everyone who drives a car will become injured in a crash. So with that being said, please snap responsibly.
A lot can be said about how selfies are bad for you. They can cause you to become depressed or even narcissistic. But at the end of the day, there will always be a lot of people who simply have fun with it. Not everyone who takes selfies suffers for it, just as not everyone who drives a car will become injured in a crash. So with that being said, please snap responsibly.