Selfies as a cultural phenomenon: Selfiecity shows that selfies aren’t just shallow or narcissistic, they’re meaningful acts of self presentation and communication. The rise of the front facing camera on smartphones made selfies easier and more common, which helped them become a global cultural trend.
Cultural patterns: The study reveals local differences in expression. Bangkok and São Paulo selfies tend to be the happiest, while Moscow selfies are more neutral. These patterns highlight urban identity, social norms, and cultural styles.
Social justice lens: Selfiecity makes visible who participates in digital culture and who might be underrepresented. It encourages audiences to think critically about representation, privacy, and power in social media data, without ever exposing individual personal information.
Digital humanities connection: By combining art, data, and technology, the project turns selfies into a mirror of society and shows how digital humanities can study culture in a nuanced and ethical way.
