Gen Zers are fans of the wide-angled, often distorted, .5 selfie. To alleviate the pressure of posting on social media, many members of this generation use the fun-filled photo to capture moments and store memories. In fact, taking a .5 selfie is convenient for any kind of event. So, if you're wanting to join the trend, here's how to get started.
When 16-year-old Riley Galfi encountered an artist she admires at a concert in May, instead of the usual selfie, she requested a .5 selfie. She quickly flipped her phone around, held it up above her head, and pressed the volume button to take a memorable, wide-angle image. Galfi beamed as she recounted the experience to CNBC, saying, “I took a .5 with Aidan Bissett. What? That’s really cool.”
The wide-angled .5 selfie, or “point five” as Galfi and her peers call it, has become a hit on social media platforms. This trend originated upon the release of Apple’s iPhone 11, which was equipped with an Ultra Wide camera lens. It is particularly popular among members of Generation Z, the demographic born after 1997, as per the Pew Research Center.
Gen Z, having grown up with smartphones, social media, and AI, is no stranger to keeping pace with the latest technology movements. On platforms like Instagram, many from this group are not into curated and filtered photos, but rather embrace a more natural, messier vibe. This is where the .5 selfie fits in.
“They’re not like the usual selfie, they shouldn’t be a well thought out picture that you take,” said 24-year-old Rachel Aquino in an interview with CNBC. She went on to describe them as a way to capture the moment in real time, something she has done on a daily basis for the past year. Aquino finds them useful for documenting her everyday life, outfit choices, events, and special times with her family. When out with her friends, she joked that someone is likely to suggest a .5 selfie, which usually requires only a few tries to get it right.
Aquino remarked that sometimes, her photos consist of not looking at the camera, or having her back to the camera while out in the street of New York or with friends round a table. She dubbed this trend, 'the .5 selfie', and said it is a popular habit to share it on Instagram and TikTok, and is even seen as a part of a 'photo dump', where up to 10 random, nonchronological photos are shared. Gabriel Lesser, a 21-year-old college student, said that lots of his friends post the .5 photos on Instagram, which he said "always make the cut" on the photo dump. He added that he has one friend who focuses on making her Instagram "casual again", and so mainly posts .5 photos. He explained that it creates less expectation for the photo, and that through it, one can get "cool angles and funny, goofy proportions".
Many professional Gen Z social media creators have found success with a more casual online aesthetic. Take Alix Earle and Emma Chamberlain, the latter of whom has 15.7 million Instagram followers. Chamberlain's posts include edgy, fun, and less-than-perfect photos that are more accessible to recreate. This relatable vibe has propelled her career with achievements such as a podcasting deal with Spotify, launching her own coffee company, and collaborating with brands like Louis Vuitton.In addition, Sabrina Bahsoon, better known as "Tube Girl," achieved viral success on TikTok through her .5 videos taken on public transportation in London. Her self-assuredness and sense of style have granted her a place on the runway at designer fashion shows this fall. "[Bahsoon's] confidence and the way she looks when she's filming is inspiring," said Aquino. Her videos clearly resonate with Gen Z, who've propelled her to fame.
Begin by opening the camera app on your iPhone. Flip the camera to view the scene in front of you, but not at your face, like for a traditional selfie. Tap the 0.5 button which appears over the word "photo" to access the Ultra Wide lens, and then turn your phone around so you can't see the screen. The next step requires you to hold your arm out straight, raise the phone above your head, and press the volume button to capture the shot. Avoid pressing the power button by mistake! As the angle of the camera is so wide, usually you won't have to fret about fitting multiple people into the frame, making .5 selfies a great way to capture large groups or attractive backdrops. Be sure to keep your arm steady when taking them – otherwise the photo may be distorted. An interesting aspect of .5 selfies is that you can play with distortion. People on Gen Z were quick to realise that if you take a .5 photo really close to someone's face, such as pressing the phone to their forehead, you can create an amusing caricature where one feature stands out. Galfi remarked that, "If someone makes a funny face, it looks even funnier with .5 - it's really fun."
Lily McIntyre, 23, stated that the .5 selfie allows her to document both the exciting and the ordinary parts of her life. She has numerous .5 photos displaying the scenery of her Irish getaway, as well as some of her just hanging out in her living room. "I'm grateful for all of these pictures that document the monotonous moments," she told CNBC. "The great thing about taking .5s is that you can do it for anything." Lesser also takes a .5 photograph every day to capture moments such as a walk or breakfast with his grandparents. "People are exhausted from the pressure of trying to be caught in the right angle," he said. "I think .5s are an amusing way to take pictures, particularly for selfies, since you don't get to evaluate yourself while taking it." His grandparents also find the photos funny, he mentioned.McIntyre mentioned that her age group is regularly criticized for taking numerous pictures and investing too much time on their phones, but she is grateful to have the humorous photos to look back on. "I think it's a great way to express yourself," she said. "And it's not limited to Gen Z. If you want to join the .5 selfie platform and you're in a different generation, you can."
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