Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

'Sellotape selfies' take over from 'no makeup selfie' as the latest online trend

In the same week that #nomakeupselfie raised £1 million for Cancer Research, Sellotape selfie has taken its crown

Kashmira Gander
Thursday 20 March 2014 20:13 GMT
Comments
A Twitter user posts a Sellotape selfie
A Twitter user posts a Sellotape selfie

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The sheer speed at which crazes become passé online has become apparent once more, as in the same week that #nomakeupselfie went viral, Sellotape selfies have replaced it.

The pictures filling up Twitter and Facebook news feeds show people fearlessly wrapping sticky tape around their heads, with total disregard for protecting sensitive and potentially painful areas like their eyes or eyebrows.

While the ‘no make-up selfie’ has seen £1 million raised for Cancer Research in just 24 hours, Sellotape selfies have no purpose other than seeing how contorted and unrecognisable a person can make their face.

The trend has also adopted elements of the no makeup selfie.

Where women nominate each other to pose completely bare-faced to raise cancer awareness and donations, some sellotape selfies are accompanied by the names of friends to take up the gauntlet and make their ugliest face. Most just describe how painful it was to remove the tape.

While the hashtag was used on Twitter October last year, in the 10 hours since Sellotape selfie Twitter and Facebook account were created, hundreds of people across the world have joined in and posted photos.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in