Selfies are reversed or flipped horizontally by default because it mimics the way we see ourselves in a mirror. When we look at ourselves in a mirror, our left side appears on the left and our right side appears on the right. This is the orientation that we are accustomed to seeing and it feels more natural to us.
The convention of reversing selfies can be traced back to the early days of photography when selfies were taken using mirrors. People would pose in front of a mirror, and the camera would capture their reflection. This resulted in a reversed image on the film, which when developed, would appear as if the photo was taken from the perspective of someone looking at the mirror.
As technology advanced and front-facing cameras became more common on smartphones, the default setting for these cameras was to reverse the image to maintain continuity with the traditional mirror selfie. This means that when we take a selfie through the front lens, it is flipped horizontally, so our left side appears on the right and our right side appears on the left.
While there is no technical reason for this reversal, it has become the norm and is now expected by most people. It has become a part of our visual language and the way we perceive and share selfies. However, it’s worth noting that not all phone makers follow this convention. Apple, for example, does not reverse selfies by default, which means that the image appears as it would to an observer looking at the person directly.
The decision to reverse selfies is ultimately a design choice made by phone manufacturers. By defaulting to the mirrored image, they provide a familiar and intuitive experience for users who are used to seeing themselves in this way. It also allows for consistency in the way selfies are shared and interpreted across different platforms and devices.
It’s interesting to note that some social media platforms and camera apps offer the option to disable the default reversal of selfies. This gives users the choice to present themselves as they appear in reality or as they are accustomed to seeing in the mirror.
Selfies are reversed or flipped horizontally by default to mimic the way we see ourselves in a mirror. This convention has its roots in the early days of photography and has become ingrained in our visual culture. While there is no technical necessity for this reversal, it has become the expected norm and provides a familiar experience for users when taking and sharing selfies.