<P> A selfie (/ sɛlfiː /) is a self - portrait photograph, typically taken with a digital camera or camera phone held in the hand or supported by a selfie stick . Selfies are often shared on social networking services such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter . They are usually flattering and made to appear casual . "Selfie" typically refers to self - portrait photos taken with the camera held at arm's length or pointed at a mirror, as opposed to those taken by using a self - timer or remote . A selfie stick can be used to position the camera farther away from the subject, allowing the camera to see more around them . </P> <P> According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a selfie is described as, "A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and shared via social media". </P> <P> Robert Cornelius, an American pioneer in photography, produced a daguerreotype of himself in 1839 which is also one of the first photographs of a person . Because the process was slow he was able to uncover the lens, run into the shot for a minute or more, and then replace the lens cap . He recorded on the back "The first light Picture ever taken . 1839 ." </P> <P> The debut of the portable Kodak Brownie box camera in 1900 led to photographic self - portraiture becoming a more widespread technique . The method was usually by mirror and stabilizing the camera either on a nearby object or on a tripod while framing via a viewfinder at the top of the box . Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, at the age of 13, was one of the first teenagers to take her own picture using a mirror to send to a friend in 1914 . In the letter that accompanied the photograph, she wrote, "I took this picture of myself looking at the mirror . It was very hard as my hands were trembling ." </P>

When was the first selfie taken who took it