Pyschologists are concerned that millennials are becoming obsessed with selfies, and may be addicted to celebrity culture, according to Oklahoma City's Own News 9. These people, born between 1981 and 1997, are considered millenials, and doctors are increasingly worried about the generation's obsession with themselves, fame and technology, Time Magazine noted.
They post selfies on social media sites documenting their lives. CBS New York reported that selfies are actually viewed as self portraits of their popularity and net worth.
"It's kind of just become like our own brand. We take pictures of what we wear, where we eat, what we do, when we do it," millennial Sabina Vanegas told CBS New York.
Another millennial, Melissa Jimenez, said, "I think it does put a lot more pressure because there's a bunch of photos taken of you. You just have to look good all the time."
The mounting social pressure to look good in selfies and constantly in every aspect of life is reportedly boosting business for plastic surgeons, according to CBS New York. Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Nicholas Nikolov said more clients are coming to him because they are completely consumed by their self image.
"I see a lot more people coming to my office and the answer to the question, 'What bothers you, and why did you decide to come and see me?' surprising enough is, 'I saw a selfie of myself and I hate it, I have to fix it,'" Dr. Nikolov told CBS New York.
Twenty-something Kasey Bryant explained: "The personal celebrity is definitely a relevant thing that's happening. When someone likes your photo and someone shares or comments it's definitely a boost to you."
As a result of feeling like a personal celebrity on social media, millennials are seriously considering plastic surgery to improve their selfies. Dr. Nikolov consulted with 23-year-old model Candice Wurster, who hated the shadow under her eyes in selfies, CBS New York reported.
Psychologist Sandy Hotchkiss stated that young people are forming an addiction to selfies. "Our values lean toward the shallow end of the value pool where things like physical beauty and material success are more important than things like compassion, courage, and kindness," Hotchkiss said.
Experts said celebrities like Kim Kardashian, who are possibly obsessed with and constantly post selfies, are aiding the cultural addiction.
