I almost didn't post this story because I wasn't sure how it relates to this blog's purpose. Then I saw a video from Nilofer Merchant, and I realized why it's too important not to include. 

The trend of 'selfies' seems like a social media fad, but it's more. One of the positive side effects of the social media craze has been giving people the opportunity to look more often at themselves. We can't hide behind the camera as easily anymore. Of course, many people use this opportunity in a shallow way, but if you want to think about the deeper issues, I highly recommend Nilofer's video.

In the NY Times, Jenna Wortham recently discussed how the presence our face can help us acknowledge ourselves in a story. When we share something we've found, we're not just forwarding something but we're joining the story. We should NOT overlook this opportunity. When you see your face, think about your role, and where you're coming from, and realize that it may not be obvious to everyone else. You have to work on being a clearly defined presence.

NY Times: My Selfie, Myself, 2013-Oct-19, by Jenna Wortham

We are swiftly becoming accustomed to — and
perhaps even starting to prefer — online conversations and interactions
that revolve around images and photos. They are often more effective at
conveying a feeling or reaction than text. Plus, we’ve become more
comfortable seeing our faces on-screen, thanks to services like
Snapchat, Skype, Google Hangout and FaceTime, and the exhilarating
feeling of connectedness that comes from even the briefest video
conversation. Receiving a photo of the face of the person you’re talking
to brings back the human element of the interaction, which is easily
misplaced if the interaction is primarily text-based.

"The idea of the selfie is much more like your face is the caption and
you’re trying to explain a moment or tell a story," said Frédéric della
Faille, the founder and designer of Frontback, a popular new
photo-sharing application that lets users take photographs using both
front- and rear-facing cameras. "It’s much more of a moment and a story
than a photo." And more often than not, he added, "It’s not about being
beautiful."