40+ year old women posting selfies on social media - is this a new trend?

[bogeywoman]

Quite a few of my friends/acquaintances have recently started posting very posed selfies (without much in the way of a description) on FB and instagram. Women who are well into their 40s, married with children. Is this some sort of lockdown related insecurity? I find it so strange.

I'm 61, I post the occasional selfie - and the reason? Because I live in a different country from most of my friends, and I don't see them very often - I don't want them to be shocked by how I've 'aged' since they last saw me, so it's a way of keeping them up to date with the ravages of time!

It’s not a selfie that is a photo taken of you somewhere or with someone it’s the pouty, sexy, filtered ones. When you’re a grown woman and mother ? My teen DC would die if embarrassment and so would I.

@lilgreen

It’s not a selfie that is a photo taken of you somewhere or with someone it’s the pouty, sexy, filtered ones. When you’re a grown woman and mother ? My teen DC would die if embarrassment and so would I.

So don't do it, who cares?

I don’t. It’s a discussion asking opinions don’t you know? This is mine.

Light the touch paper, go back and laugh OP - congratulations, over 250
responses, what’s the record?

I find loads of men doing it as well which is more weird to me and now there are video selfies which is 🤢

Christ that’s the ultimate turn off.

I have one Facebook friend that does this - duck-face, wrinkled boobs-out selfies all the time. Once she even posted a full soft-porn glamour photoshoot with very little clothes on - one image had her lying naked on a bear-skin rug covered (barely) with a sheet. I felt I didn't need to see any of that, really. I don't know what's driving it, but she is a very vain and shallow person, sadly.

God this thread is so depressing. Women picking on women who dare not to stay in their boxes.

Social media has created a very narcissistic world.

OP I post selfies quite a bit. I look great with make up and it makes me feel good. I am disabled and want to have something out there that shows no sign of my disabilities. It makes me feel normal. I don't care one iota what others may think about my selfies. I like them, it's my wall and I decide what goes up. If people don't like them they have various options.

You could argue that selfies are an example of women staying in their boxes - specifically the box which defines their importance and worth as primarily decorative.

No opinion really on the selfies , they may have their own reasons but what does this mean ?

'I've only got one friend who does it constantly, she's the wrong side of 40' @cocoiabutter

Thinking about it, the only solo pics I tend to see on FB of men I know tend to be "Me with the shelf I just built/fish I just caught/mountain I just climbed/bike I just rode for 30 miles" etc. I have never seen one with just "Here's my face" or even "Here's my new haircut".

It is a bit tragic to post endless selfies at any age but then they would probably say posting on MN is tragic so whatever.

@3rdNamechange

No opinion really on the selfies , they may have their own reasons but what does this mean ?

'I've only got one friend who does it constantly, she's the wrong side of 40' @cocoiabutter

Means it's not ok to be 40 or over. If you are 40+ immediately get back indoors and do not venture out again lest you offend anyone by existing.

I think sometimes they have their eye on someone and are trying to entice them with a sexy pout!

I think the sexy pout looks are embarrassing for any age. Just ridiculous. I couldnt do one without falling about laughing. Honestly how are people not ashamed and embarrassed?! These people are not normal.

When we are young and pretty we are meant to photograph ourselves and be constantly in a groomed attractive state. Then we cross the age barrier and are meant to be invisible. Maybe tucked in the back of other peoples photos, or wearing the mother of the bride or mother of the graduate outfits. We are meant to be part of the back ground, or not in the photo at all. Either way it's not about us and how we feel, it's about the patriarchy. Well fuck the patriarchy. Take a selfie or don't take a selfie whichever side of 40 you are, so long as it's your choice.

I'm quite enjoying being on the "wrong side" of 40, actually. I give fewer fucks what people think.

Todaywewilldobetter

Amen

DolphinandDuck

If “normal” means being snide and judgemental about strangers on the internet for putting their pictures on Facebook you can keep it.

I am going to post a selfie today and will feel not one ounce of ‘shame and embarrassment’. I am a fatty too.
Look out for a fat old mumsnetter on your FB.

Pray tell, what is wrong with selfies?
I am 30 and spent my 20s hearing them put down by older men and women. It's just a picture FFS. Is it better if someone else takes it? Why? Should noone take pictures then?