National Selfie Day

Cheerful person with an outstretched arm, holding a phone, against a vibrant background with a trendy outfit and accessories.. — National selfie day illustration

Say cheese, or duck face, or quirky caption or whatever else floats your selfie boat! Yes, folks, it's time to celebrate National Selfie Day, that one day of the year where our collective self-obsession gets a hashtag and becomes socially acceptable. This day has been clicked, filtered, and posted into existence by every #blessed #GPOY #Wokeuplikethis netizen since it was first celebrated.

When is Selfie Day?

It's national selfie day on the 22nd June.

History of National Selfie Day

Just a slide up the timeline to the grand ‘old’ year of 2014, we find the humble beginning of National Selfie Day. Established by DJ Rick McNeely of Fishbowl Radio Network, this day was decreed as June 21st with the simple objective of encouraging people to take creative (and appropriate) selfies and to share them on social media. A day to celebrate self-love sans stigma.

Internet Boom of Selfie Day

Our data shows a significant spike in online mentions of National Selfie Day on June 22nd, 2016, with a total of 162,331 mentions. It seems that our digital society had well and truly embraced the selfie trend by this point, favoring the quirky over the vogue, the iconic over the mundane.

How to Celebrate?

Clicking and sharing a selfie could hardly be the whole shebang now could it? Don't worry, there’s so much more! Celebrate your love for your face by Snapchatting every moment, Instagram your way through the day or even give a nod to nostalgia with a good old Polaroid.

So get out there and put that best foot (or angle) forward this National Selfie Day!

History behind the term 'Selfie'

2002

The birth of the term 'selfie'

In 2002, the term 'selfie' was coined by an Australian man named Nathan Hope. He used it to describe a self-portrait photograph that he took with his friends during a drunken party in an online forum. 'Selfie' is derived from 'self-portrait' and became a popular term among Internet users to refer to self-taken photographs.

2004

The spread of 'selfie' on social media

By 2004, the term 'selfie' started gaining momentum on social media platforms like MySpace and Flickr. With the advent of camera phones, people began regularly sharing selfies online, leading to the popularization of the term.

2012

The selfie phenomenon goes mainstream

In 2012, the popularity of selfies exploded with the rise of smartphones equipped with front-facing cameras and social media apps like Instagram. Selfies became a global phenomenon, with people of all ages and backgrounds taking and sharing self-portraits. Celebrities, politicians, and even world leaders joined the selfie trend, making headlines and attracting enormous attention.

2013

The Oxford English Dictionary recognizes 'selfie'

In 2013, the Oxford English Dictionary officially recognized the term 'selfie' as a legitimate word, reflecting its widespread usage and cultural significance. It was added alongside other notable additions that year, solidifying its place in the English language.

2014

The 'Oscar selfie' breaks records

One of the most memorable moments in selfie history occurred at the 2014 Oscars when host Ellen DeGeneres took a star-studded selfie during the live broadcast. The photo featured Hollywood A-listers like Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, and Meryl Streep, among others. This selfie quickly became the most retweeted image of all time, causing a viral sensation and highlighting the cultural impact and ubiquity of the selfie phenomenon.