Evolution of the SELFIE

SELFIES Are Nearly 200 Years Old

Taking a picture of yourself (i.e., taking a SELFIE) is not a new thing. However, in the early days of photography, it required a tripod, a delay timer, and the ability to remain still for a long time.

According to dxomark.com, the first known selfie was taken by chemist Robert Cornelius in 1839. However, SELFIES did not receive a lot of attention until Andy Warhol turned them into an art form. In 2017, Sotheby's in London sold his SELFIE for $7.7M.
evolution of the selfie
Nowadays, of course, SELFIES can be quickly snapped with a camera phone and instantly posted on social-media networks (like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram).

The term "SELFIE" came to prominence in the early 2000s (due to the popularity of MySpace). SELFIES gained even more popularity in 2010 when the front-facing camera was introduced on the iPhone 4. The increase of SELFIES led to the creation of mobile apps like Instagram and Snapchat.

In 2013, the Oxford English Dictionary announced that "SELFIE" was the "Word of the Year".

"Evolution of the SELFIE" Video

Here is a 3-minute video showing how the SELFIE has evolved:

The Difference Types of SELFIE

Type of "Selfie"Image

USSIE

USSIE means "Group Selfie" or "Us Selfie". Typically, the background of an USSIE is the reason for the photograph. For example, many USSIES are taken with celebrities or in front of monuments. It is often said that the most famous USSIE is "the picture that broke Twitter" at the 2014 Oscars.

YOUIE

A YOUIE is a selfie of another person. (So actually, another word for a YOUIE is "photograph"!)

FELFIE

FELFIE means "Farmer Selfie". The FELFIE began as a way to put a face to farming to encourage buyers to source more locally.

HELFIE

HELFIE means "Hair Selfie". HELFIES are usually posted after new hair cuts or hairstyles. Many popular celebrities post HELFIES to show off their new hairstyles.

BELFIE

BELFIE means "Bum Selfie". BELFIES are usually posted by females on social-media networks (usually Instagram). It is often said that the first ever BELFIE was taken in 2012 by fitness guru Jen Selter.

WELFIE

WELFIE means "Workout Selfie." WELFIES are typically posted on social-media networks (usually Instagram). They can be posted either pre-workout or post-workout. Many celebrities and fitness gurus regularly post WELFIEs.

SELFEYE

SELFEYE means "Eye Selfie". SELFEYES are a way for makeup gurus to show off their eye makeup or eyebrows. The term SELFEYE is attributed to the makeup brand Max Factor, which coined the term to promote their new mascara.

SHELFIE

SHELFIE means "Shelf Selfie". SHELFIES are usually taken to show off books, figures, or collectable memorabilia. Many believe the term was coined by author Rick Riordan.

DRONIE

DRONIE means "Drone Selfie." DRONIES gained popularity in 2014 after drones became commercially available to the public.

DRELFIE

DRELFIE means "Drunken Selfie". A DRELFIE is just a SELFIE taken while drinking alcohol.

The Variations of SELFIE Are Portmanteau Words

Many of the names that derive from the SELFIE can be classified as portmanteau words, which are words that combine the letters (and the meanings) of two words. For example, the term BELFIE is an amalgam of the words "bum" and "selfie."

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