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Oxford Dictionary names “selfie” word of the year

It’s a prestigious, yearly award. Many are considered but only one is triumphant. After careful consideration, the Oxford English Dictionary has chosen “selfie” as the official “Word of the Year.”

The definition: “Photo one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.” The photographers don’t have to be by themselves, as long as they’re in the pic.

The word “selfie” first made an appearance in 2002 on an Australian online forum. A photographer apologized for a picture being blurry, using the excuse: “I took it himself, selfie.” Since then it’s been on a nonstop rise. Starting in January 2013, the frequency of the word “selfie” online and in everyday life has skyrocketed. It was added to the Oxford Dictionary Online in August.

Not everyone is a fan of the “selfie” craze. One woman told Global News, “If you’re sending anything explicit, other than a head shot … you could be asking for trouble. If you are being smart, it’s harmless.”

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Avid selfie snapper Denis Cicak suggested a few things to get better pictures.

“You want to raise your neck a bit, turn to the right slightly, and smile.”

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