Selfie: The click that revolutionized social networks

#SocialMediaDay Edition

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Who hasn't uploaded a selfie to show off the outfit, the hesitation or that epic moment? But behind every click there is more story than you can imagine. In this Social Media Day, let's throwback to the origin of this phenomenon that not only filled our feeds, but redefined digital content and network marketing.

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A look at the genesis of the selfie

In 1839, Robert Cornelius, an amateur chemist and camera dealer from Philadelphia, took advantage of the newly developed daguerreotype technique devised by Louis Daguerre to create a pioneering self-portrait. He adapted a copper plate coated with silver salts, which he then exposed to iodine vapor to make it photosensitive. After placing his homemade camera in the yard of the family store, he removed the lens cover, ran into the frame and held the pose for about 10—15 minutes, the time needed for the image to be printed on the plate. This is how the first photographic selfie was born. No filters, no apps, but full pioneer.

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‍From drunken “selfie” to the global term

In 2002, on an Australian ABC Online forum, a user uploaded a photo beaten after a binge and called it a “selfie”. The word was a boom. In 2013, Oxford declared it Word of the Year. Since then, no one has let go of it.

Image text: “Sorry about the focus, it was a selfie.”

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The technological explosion: front cameras and apps

Although the Sanyo SCP-5300 (2002) pioneered a front-facing camera, the iPhone 4 (2010) changed everything. Decent quality, touchscreen and networks like Instagram for editing and sharing at the touch. In 2012, #selfie and #instaselfie were already a global trend.

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The selfie that made the trend viral

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At the 2014 Oscars, host Ellen DeGeneres surprised the world when she posted a selfie with stars like Bradley Cooper, Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep, among others. His photo became the most retweeted tweet up to that point. The selfie went from occasional viral fashion to a global cultural phenomenon. The brands took note. If a selfie could break the internet, so could it boost campaigns.

Revolution in digital marketing

The agencies caught the flow: “look at my routine”, “unboxing” or “behind the scenes” in selfies bring brands and consumers closer together. UGC campaigns exploded with real selfies, creating trust and community. The selfie transformed advertising from “I'm talking to you” to “let's talk together”.

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The selfie as a content strategy

🟣 User Generated Content (UGC) What does selfies include 4.5x more likely to convert than traditional branded content.

🟣 Publications with selfies on Instagram They generate on average 38% more likes than other personal photos.

🟣El 90% of consumers says that content generated by other users (such as selfies) has a greater influence on your purchasing decisions than traditional advertisements.

🟣In beauty, fashion or travel campaigns, the use of selfies increases the perceived authenticity, which increases engagement in a 70%.

🟣The selfie format is key in reels, stories and TikToks. Brands that incorporate selfies as part of creative content are successful 2x greater engagement than those that don't.

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Final Balance: Art, Identity and Challenges

The selfie is a hybrid between pop art and personal marketing. It gives voice to communities that were not heard before, but it can also imbalance mental health and open the door to cyberbullying. In the end, it's all a matter of using it wisely and authentically.

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In conclusion

This 30th of June, we celebrate the Social Media Day remembering how something as simple as a selfie forever changed the way we connect, express and build digital community. So the next time you upload one, do it with flow, but also with purpose. 😉

#SocialMediaDay #SelfiePower #HistoriaDelSelfie #DigitalCulture #RedesSociales

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