D.I.Y. Selfie

“To be beautiful means to be yourself.”
– Bindi Irwin 

Selfies are everywhere!  They are so prevalent that they’ve been added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Everyone at 4GGL believes in selfies because as the young-adult novelist Scott Westerfeld is famous for saying, we believe that : 

“What you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful.”

Check out this interesting (and short) documentary about
the history of the “selfie” by filmmaker Sanidhya Shetye.

Why are young people saying they are so addicted to clicking selfies? Some reasons from girls in the above documentary and a recent article in Elle magazine include: 

• “Because we love ourselves.”
• “Because it makes us closer.”
• “You can express yourself; and not be dependent on anyone.”
• “We have all realized that we take our own best pictures.”
• “I prefer to be in charge of my own image.”

Selfie: a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.

Unfortunately in Russia, police say that in 2015 at least 10 people have been killed and 100 injured taking selfies. Their new Safe Selfie campaign’s motto is: “Even a million ‘likes’ on social media are not worth your life and well-being.” So, be safe out there!

The Russian government just published a guide for taking ‘safe selfies’.

Fashion writer Glynnis Macnicol believes that “Selfies are Good for Girls,” and we love her recent quote that “to turn the camera on oneself is to bestow life and freedom. In other words, to give voice where before there was often none. So selfie away this summer, ladies, and do it with pride. Leave as many voices behind you as you can.”

Self-captured images allow young adults to express their mood states and share important experiences. – Dr. Andrea Letamendi

TAKING THE PERFECT SELFIE: Here’s a simple guide to taking great selfies from a young mom who’s an accomplished blogger. Click each tip for more details! 

1. Make sure it’s you who takes the photo. 

2. Don’t just take it of your face. 

3. Be mindful of where you are. 

4. Beware of photobombers. 

5. The better the location, the better. 

6. Consider where the Sun is. 

7. Use a front facing camera if possible. 

8. Immortalize your selfie.

Send us your selfie!  Post it in the comments below or on our Facebook fan page. 

4GGL thanks Unique Young Mum for the tips! 

Jade Lewendon became a (young) mother  a month before her 16th birthday. Today, her son is six years old and she publishes an online blog where she offers money saving tips, product reviews and competitions.