Blogpost #5: Selfie Junkie

More and more people are introduced to the idea of taking a selfie. From, pre-teens to the elders. Selfies are quickly becoming a new form of recreation. The youth in particular partake this activities, some becoming addicted to it. Of course with this new vice, addiction will surely be at its tail.

In connection to selfie addiction, there was a hoax that was spread about selfies causing mental illness. So let's look on to this realistically. In Gemma Aldridge and Kerry Harden's article "Selfie addict took TWO HUNDRED a day - and tried to kill himself when he couldn't take perfect photo" on mirror.co.uk they talk about Danny Bowman, a 19-yo boy who apparently took hundreds selfies. Bowman dropped out of school, stayed at home for six months, became aggressive with his parents and even tried to commit suicide just because he wasn't able to take the perfect selfie.

🔵🔵His girlfriend just broke up with him and he's giving his number # out to everyone who follows him 🔴🔴 🔵🔵Comment"your so fine😘😍" or "Bae😍😘" on one of his pictures to get noticed🔴🔴 💕😭😍@xAngelzx6😍😭💕 💕😭😍@xAngelzx6😍😭💕 💕😭😍@xAngelzx6😍😭💕 💕😭😍@xAngelzx6😍😭💕 😍 He's following back the next 100 CUTE girls who follow spam/likes and leave comments so hurry up😍 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - #Rate #tbh #cute #sixpack #abs #cutie #Tumblrboy #followme #followforfollow #follow4follow #likeforlike #l4l #kikme #twerk #summer #hottie #recent4recent #shoutout #followers #snapchat #s4s #likeforfollow #wcw #boys #followhim #instafollow #selfie #perfect #boyfriend #followback  Aldridge and Harden says, "But Danny is not some bizarre one-off case in a world where smartphone and social media obsession is spiralling upwards. The top psychiatrist at the clinic where Danny was treated revealed ­addiction to taking selfies is becoming so widespread it is now is a recognised mental illness."

Love of one's self  may or may not get you crazy. In Danny's case, he got a bit overboard. I could never really understand how these kinds of addiction get out of hand. I had my fare share of addictions but never anything like this. Its sad to hear that a once harmless and fun recreational activity turns someone to a selfie junkie. But who am I to judge, I'm just glad that the boy didn't end his life.

source: diylol.com

So how do I do Iknow if I'm an addict or at the verge of it? Casey Ferrand's article "Signs of suffering from 'selfie' addiction" on wdsu.com talks about some of the things a selfie addict would think about. One example is "Do I really like myself? I think everybody should." Casey also gave some advice on what to do as told by a Psychologist and even put up a few questions to asses if you're indeed an addict.

Ma minette et moi #addict #amour #love #cat #me #chat #family #forever #friends Ferrand says, "It is hard not to get swept up in the selfie craze. It is fun, easy and with one click your picture is posted for all to see."

You know the feeling when you eat chocolates? After you had one, it's practically unavoidable to eat another. Your mind thinks it's bad because it'll make you fat, but your body thinks it's so good, that you need more, if not every single piece you see in front of you. Or when you play this certain video game. You start playing, you won't notice time passes and after you realize it's 3 am you feel that you've done something bad yet you still want to play. Nowadays, it's really easy to get caught up on something. The digital age, on the internet more specifically, made it easier for people to explore vast ideas and information. Well of course that will lead to either something useful, like general information and general knowledge or the opposite like vices that'll have a negative effect on you and even things that'll make you think or suggest you to do ill.

source: troll.me

Humans will be humans. We are susceptible to every form of temptation. We're not perfect and that what makes us humans. Of course, too much of something is bad be it good or not. Moderation I guess or at least a sense of knowing that enough is enough. Addiction can be fought, you just need to learn how to tame it.