By: Katrina Clarke Staff Reporter, Published on Wed Nov 12 2014
One provocative pose, the flash of a camera and a tap on a screen are all teenagers need to gain thousands, if not millions, of new friends.
A year-long study into “selfie culture” finds teenagers are going to unsettling lengths to gain online fame. So-called “#Instafamers” are abandoning lessons learned about online privacy, posting near-nude photos or videos and opening themselves up to exploitation and bullying, according to a new study by researchers at Centennial College.
“When sharing becomes over-sharing and that becomes fame-craving and that becomes obsessive, then obviously we need to start asking why,” said Debbie Gordon, director of Centennial College’s Kids Research Centre, which researches children’s media futures.