Me, My Selfie, and I

There are few global cultural trends more universal and ubiquitous than the selfie. The self-image has become the new social identity of the individual, whether it is of them with their pet, BFF, favorite food, their favorite place, or moment in time. We are our selfies now.

The invention of the camera on a phone a scant 25 years ago changed the world for anyone who wanted to share something visually with the universe via the internet. By the beginning of the new millennium the phone-imaged selfie had begun to replace magazines, print photography, and other media where images of men were shared, collected, and presented for our entertainment and education.

The smartphone and the bathroom/gym/club/school/bedroom mirror have become the new stage for us to snap and click our desired self-view to share with others on social media, email, text, and every other possible communication platform. We are our selfies to the rest of the world now.

For those who enjoy seeing men in the media, it appears to be the golden age (until AI and the virtual reality world becomes ubiquitous). The men who love to share themselves with us via their selfies and videos can now become celebrities, earn millions in income, and can have millions of fans. The days of adult DVD’s and sticky magazines are gone forever- or least a new collector fetish.

The monetization of adult entertainment has been transformed by the self-produced shows, videos, streaming, and selfie-thon of pay-for-play; porn websites seem almost quaint when compared to the blast of steaming Twitter posts, Tik Tok naked dances, and Insta teases.

The venerable dick pic is the currency of the Grindr pursuit, followed by all parts presentable/desirable, and many that are none of either. For most of us, myself included, the cock is the measure of the man, and the cock selfie is measuring stick, often literally, of that worthy and pendulous appendage.

I guess it is the reality of our times that the selfie is a reflection of everything we desire. We hit the shutter button all by ourselves, and curate the world we have fashioned for others.