Is “selfie” a social phenomenon or a mental illness?

The “selfie” phenomenon has spread around the world, no longer limited to young men and women, but has become a way for everyone to stretch out their arms and take a selfie. This scene has become familiar and recurring in the lives of celebrities, politicians and even clergy.
The word “Selfie” means “selfie” in Arabic, which means taking a selfie with one or more people using the camera of a smartphone or smart device, and then posting it on social networking sites and other personal pages.
Although the selfie has long been known and is taken with cameras with automatic photography capabilities, today’s camera technology has given it such great fame and dimension that it has become an obsession for many people and, according to studies, reflects a state of mental illness caused by a strong desire to compensate for the lack of self-esteem and the gap in intimacy between friends and family. Many studies have shown that a large number of selfies may not only be an addiction to selfies, but may be one of the first indicators of a disease that can lead to depression and serious psychological consequences. But on the other hand, this does not mean that everyone who takes selfies may be suffering from mania or a mental illness.
The selfie as a phenomenon has been subject to many interpretations. It is (a beautiful word we say to ourselves), or it is (the narcissistic aspect of our culture), or it (expresses our opinions), or it. (Increases our self-confidence), or it is (a new type of social communication) The multiple interpretations of this phenomenon suggest that it has become a philosophy in itself.
A study conducted by the American Psychiatric Association showed that this phenomenon is widespread and severe in some young people, and when it exceeds the point of becoming a chronic disease, it may indicate a mental disorder in those who are addicted to it. The study diagnosed the case of Facebook. He lost control in the face of his strong desire to take pictures of himself and share them on the social networking site “around the clock”, at least six times a day.
Psychological analysis of this phenomenon also shows that immersion in this practice is due to the projection of a defect or contract in the person who performs it. This dumping is a manifestation of a psychological disorder and defect, revealing signs of narcissism, prompting the person to try to express himself and impose it on others because of an excessive admiration for himself. At the social level through interaction through social media networks, it creates a socio-psychological state through which people can easily show themselves without the need for physical or cultural skills and without the need to be embarrassed by the presence of an audience they fear. This leads to their constant feelings of inferiority. In addition, when a person feels the need to be noticed, he falls into this state, he becomes very aggressive in expressing himself, trying to tell others that he is here and that he is important.
As for the supporters of this phenomenon, they mention that it has benefits, including the fact that these photos are no longer for those who dress up (in many cases, people wear their best clothes and makeup so that the photographer can take the photo). Now, since anyone can take a photo of themselves with a smartphone, the “realistic image” appears, so the era of judging us (those who take our photos) is over, and the era of beautiful images is over.
Another benefit of it is that the person says, “I am here, I am in this place, at this time. I am not a loner, not an introvert, not a solitary person. I am social because those who see this picture of me become my companions when I am lonely, and therefore, they do not make me feel lonely.

❚ Think positively

– Know that mind is what makes you healthy, sick, miserable, happy, rich or poor, so learn to control your mind through your thoughts.
– You know, there is no success without failure.
– Know that people trust you through your confidence.
Focusing on success helps it happen.
– If the elevator to success is broken, take the stairs one step at a time.
– Your outer behavior reflects your inner self, whether it is negative or positive.
– The mind is like a muscle, the more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes- There is no failure, only results.

❚ Whisper

– Benefit from family meetings to guide your children and teach them the principles of Islamic morality and social etiquette.
– Keep track of your kids regularly and monitor their hidden actions and behaviors as this will help you a lot to understand what they are doing and then guide them in the right way.
– Every child must have good qualities, and what we have to do is to look for those qualities, praise them from time to time, and encourage them to maintain those qualities.