Pictures can last a lifetime, but the story behind it can only be ignited by the person that was there. From polaroids to disposable cameras the way people take photos has changed, however memories are still captured.

“I think our generation take selfies, because we have no one else to take pictures of us,” said senior Emily Ponce.

Today’s generation is all about the duck faces and the peace signs. People of different ages who live all over the world are taking pictures of themselves and uploading them to their social media.

Junior Julissa Anaya said, “When I post a selfie I try to make hashtags that are relevant to the picture and that are funny, like #ThatFarmersTanTho.”

In the 21st century a self portrait or a picture you take of yourself is called a selfie. Google defines a selfie as “a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and shared via social media.”

The term selfie was first used by an Australian university student who came up with the term after an alcohol related lip wound.

You might think that this Australian student, who nicknamed himself “Hopey,” would want to be famous for discovering the word selfie, but  he doesn’t want to give away his identity. He posted a picture of his stitched up lips asking for advice on them.

According to the Oxford Dictionaries the Australian university student wrote on ABC online back in September 2002: “Um, drunk at a mates 21st, I tripped ofer [sic] and landed lip first (with front teeth coming a very close second) on a set of steps. I had a hole about 1cm long right through my bottom lip. And sorry about the focus, it was a selfie.”

“I think our generation take selfies, because we are conceded and obsessed with our looks,” said Anaya.

Over one million selfies are taken each day all around the globe. All it takes for a selfie is a phone with a camera, having the right angle, the perfect lighting, and being on fleek.

“I think it’s fine that our generation takes selfies. I don’t know why people get mad over it. If you think you look good and want to take a picture then do it,” senior Lorena Romero said.

Our generation may be obsessed with taking selfies, but others are making a profit from them. From Kim Kardashian West’s 445 page long selfie book titled, “Selfish” to Canadian Wayne Fromm’s selfie stick.

“In the future of selfies people will be taking full body view selfies with bigger cellular devices,” said Anaya.

Selfies have been around for a long time, however they have become today’s popular trend. You may think that someone like Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, both founders of Instagram, created the selfie. However, the first selfie ever taken, without any type of filter, was back in 1839.

The first selfie was taken in a place where cheesy cheesesteaks are made and where the liberty bell rings, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This first ever self-portrait was taken by Robert Cornelius behind his family’s store.

Although Cornelius’ selfie doesn’t have the perfect lightning, he took an image that was considered “the first light picture ever taken.” Cornelius may never know this, but his photograph would change how the world takes pictures.