Generation Y or Generation Selfie?

How the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ smartphone has defined
a generation

‘Selfies’, a modern-day term for self-portrait photographs typically taken with a digital camera or smartphone, make up one-third of all pictures uploaded on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. A study by Now Sourcing and Frames Direct reveals that off these images, 55 percent come from Generation Y (millennials), who spend an hour a week on selfie duty, which can be anything from taking the photo to re-taking and editing it. Considering that the average lifespan is 27,375 days, an average millennial is expected to take 25,700 selfies during their lifetime – that’s close to one selfie for every day that they’re alive.

Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung South Africa, Justin Hume, says it’s evident that the selfie is a hallmark of this generation and explains what’s fueling its growth.

For one, the meteoric rise of social media platforms such as Facebook, which recently reported a 17 percent increase in its results for the first quarter of 2017 with 1.94 billion active monthly users, has led us to become a society of personal brand builders with the rule of thumb being ‘right here, right now’.

But what’s more important than the selfie itself? The smartphone that’s used to capture the self-portrait and the moments that come with it, which are then shared in real-time with friends, family and sometimes with foe.

The evolution of smartphones has been phenomenal. From a device used to receive calls to a tool that can now be used as a ‘professional camera to capture our everyday lives. While camera phones were initially built to work best during the day, the world’s leading smartphone provider, Samsung understands that life happens 24/7. Through its Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung perfected camera technology to work effortlessly day and night, with front and rear cameras that are so fine-tuned, selfies come out bright and clear – even in the darkest corners of the hottest clubs.

This 8MP marvel has a smart auto focus that tracks faces, so while you’re taking a group selfie with your arm or using a selfie stick, everyone in the shot will be in clear focus with faultless balance. It also boasts  enhanced multi-frame image processing which keeps all your selfies crisp.

Impressively, the front camera works just as effectively during night time, enabling users to take a flawless selfie any time of day without having to worry about lighting. The dark is no match for the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, which also feature a 12-megapixel “Dual Pixel” rear-facing camera with a f/1.7 lens, a bright F1.7 lens which brings more light into pictures – brightening and sharpening images even within limited lighting.

It seems like everywhere we go there is someone with their smartphone trying to catch an angle to capture a good picture. For those pictures on the go, the Dual Pixel sensor within the Galaxy S8 will allow you to snap pictures in a hurry and capture the moment accurately with enhanced picture processing, which takes multiple shots to process one high quality photo that is vivid and crisp.

The era of the millennial is defined by internet, high-speed communication and instant gratification. They are used to working at a fast pace, are at ease with sourcing information and are highly adaptable when it comes to technological change. Through creativity, innovation and understanding customers’ needs, Samsung has not only met every expectation of the millennials but is breaking boundaries in expanding the mobile experience to take pictures like a professional through the Pro Mode. Both the Galaxy S8 and S8+ give users a choice between the ISO, Shutter Speed, Exposure Value, Color Tone, Manual Focus, and White Balance functions to create picture-perfect moments.

Whether you identify as Generation Y or Generation Selfie, you will agree that self-portraits are not a passing trend, or another example of an egotistical society obsessed with the pleasure principle and the prospect of fast fame. Rather, selfies are an important mirror of the technological advancements of our time.