#self interested

While selfie taking is not limited exclusively to youth, due to its proliferation in the digital sphere, the widespread use of selfies on social media and young people typically taking up new technology faster, conversations around selfies often centre on young people and their use of the selfie. (Fields and Carter 2015, p.101)

In Teresa Senft and Nancy Baym’s 2015 article ‘What does the Selfie Say?’ they discuss how the ‘discourse about the cultural meanings of selfies have tended to extremes. On one hand, marketing and advertising portray selfie taking as fun and frivolous, an indication that one is young, connected and with the times. 

I am fairly empathetic, to be sure, but I am also self-interested. 

I can understand where you are, feel your pain, cry with you, but not sacrifice my happiness for yours.