#NationalSelfieDay

The Day a DJ Created a Global Selfie Holiday

National Selfie Day on June 21st was created in 2014 by DJ Rick McNeely. He pitched the idea, it caught on, and now millions of people use the day as an excuse to post their best self-portrait. Which is interesting, because most people don't need an excuse - the average millennial is estimated to take about 25,700 selfies in their lifetime. But having a dedicated day for it turns casual selfie-taking into an actual event.

The selfie itself has a longer history than most people realize. Robert Cornelius took what's considered the first photographic self-portrait in 1839 in Philadelphia. But the word "selfie" didn't enter common use until the early 2000s, and it wasn't added to the Oxford English Dictionary until 2013. The front-facing smartphone camera is what turned it from a novelty into a cultural fixture.

Why #NationalSelfieDay Gets Massive Engagement

The barrier to participation is as low as it gets. You don't need to buy anything, go anywhere, or prepare anything. You just need your face and a phone. That universal accessibility means the hashtag pulls in people who normally don't participate in hashtag days - your uncle who only posts twice a year, your coworker who mostly lurks on social media. Everybody can take a selfie.

Brands love this day because it's a natural fit for user-generated content campaigns. "Show us your selfie with our product" is one of the easiest social media promotions to run, and June 21st gives it a built-in hook. Beauty brands, phone manufacturers, camera apps, and fashion labels all compete for attention on this hashtag.

Posting Strategy for June 21st

The selfie content that performs best on this day tends to fall into two camps: the polished, well-lit glamour selfie, and the deliberately unflattering or funny one. Both work because they represent real ways people use the front camera. The "no filter" selfie also does well as a counter-trend, especially with audiences tired of heavy editing.

If you're a brand, run a selfie contest with a branded hashtag alongside #NationalSelfieDay. Encourage followers to share and tag friends. The day naturally lends itself to tagging because people want to see their friends' faces too.

Pair with #Selfie, #SelfieDay, #NoFilter, #SelfPortrait, and #FrontCamera. Post early in the morning - selfie content moves fast on this day and you want to be part of the first wave.