Editor’s Note: A special thanks to guest blogger Amy Williams, a journalist from California, mother of two teenagers, and positive parenting activist, for sharing her perspective on the latest social media craze: the selfie. A recent episode of 20/20 highlighted this growing trend and uncovered the extreme lengths some people go to in order to achieve “selfie perfection.” Want to learn more about other important issues related to parenting in a digital age? Subscribe to the Help Desk blog and check out our parent resource page. Also, stay tuned for our Digital Bootcamp Series this upcoming school year where we will offer a variety of workshops for students and parents on topics including digital identity, online safety, and more. 

Post authored by: Amy Williams

Selfies are no longer just part of the MySpace days – they are now the norm for (many) preteens and teens (and even adults) all across social media. Although many parents see them as just a fad that is nothing to be concerned about, it might be time to look a little deeper at this current trend.

Over one million selfies are taken each day and 91% of teens have taken a selfie at some point. It’s safe to say that this is a trend that isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. However, the root of these photos isn’t all just fun and games. Research shows that preoccupation with selfies might actually be a visible indicator of a lack of confidence or sense of self. Perhaps this is something to look into and discuss with your own children?

Take a look at the infographic below, provided by Teen Safe, and the next time you seen your teen snapping a selfie, it wouldn’t hurt to start a conversation about what they really think about the trend.