Waterford Whispers News by Colm Williamson

Author:Colm Williamson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blackstaff Press Ltd

Increase in selfies means Internet is just ‘one big staring contest’

IF AN INDIVIDUAL were to type ‘google’ into Google it would, of course, break the Internet, but use any other search term and you will be met with a barrage of self-portraits known as ‘selfies’.

A new report published today by the Institute of Internet Studies (IIS) revealed that the Internet is now made up of 90 per cent selfies. Dr Klaus Kavinsky from the IIS spoke exclusively to WWN about the new findings.

‘If an alien race were to observe us from outer space they might well conclude that we are all just taking part in a global staring contest. All those serious faces staring at more serious faces would seem very strange. Of course, the aliens’ conclusions would all depend on Wi-Fi availability,’ Dr Kavinksy shared.

The IIS report reveals that, in 2009, the average human being uploaded just 3 selfies over the course of the year – a figure which has risen to 1,567 selfies per person in 2014.

‘There is a precedent for this behaviour. For hundreds of years, artists have created ‘self-portraits,’ explained Dr Kavinsky. ‘The term “selfie” was not coined until 2007 but it has roots in the latin phrase “Selfio Portraitus”. This kind of rampant narcissism has always been a part of the human psyche.’

However, Dr Kavinsky admitted that the findings did have some worrying implications. If the trends revealed in his study were to continue over the coming years, by 2020, human interaction will have devolved considerably.

‘Communication will be limited to women sending pictures of themselves looking coy in their bedrooms and men responding with serious pictures of themselves in the gym. We could potentially see the end of conventional language.’

Dr Kanvinsky has suggested what people can do to reverse this worrying trend: ‘If an individual purchases a nice dress or shirt, instead of taking twenty photos of themselves in the item of clothing, they should wear it out and talk to people,’ he concluded.

WNN FACT OF THE DAY

Enda Kenny hasn’t spoken to a member of the public since 2011.

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