Anointing the "Selfie Generation"

Image: mashable.com

The "selfie" phenomenon could not simply rest on its dubious laurels. An article in today's online version of the BBC used a headline that included the phrase "the selfie generation." Now an entire age group will endure a characterization that sounds good but means little.

Selfies have been around as long as people have been making images. What's different about this current crop of autoimages is the ability to immediately store and transmit them. At its most shameless, the selfie phenomenon conspires toward vulgarity (witness the tasteless exhibition supposedly groovy world leaders put on during Nelson Mandela's memorial service). At its best? Well, call me when we get there.