#10YearChallenge: I celebrate myself, and sing myself

From celebrities to survivors of horrific accidents their split-screen photos of #10YearChallenge have gone viral on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

What is #10YearChallenge?

This feverish trend of comparing one's present profile photo with the one of ten years back is said to have begun in the second week of January.

But the meaning of this trend is seen evolving from celebration of the self to funny memes, socio-political satires, creating awareness on Climate Change, and what not!

Ten years, a decade, long enough to bring about striking changes in our lives and leaves remarkable mark on a person's appearance and character.

Is this #10YearChallenge all about persona or just another floating trend in which people enjoy catching up with? May be both!

For last several days, whenever I visit my home page on Facebook, I witness posts of so many of my friends and acquaintances, in a form two photographs of him/ herself, intending to compare how he or she was ten years back. Quite harmless is this nostalgic throwback, right?

Of course, its THE celebration of the SELF, like the way the 19th century American poet Walt Whitman said:

"I celebrate myself, and sing myself,

And what I assume you shall assume,

For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you."

This celebration of the self cannot be termed as self-love or selfishness, rather the capacity, as Whitman understands it, to share it between the "I" and "you" exactly has been materialised in this modern age by the tools of social media.

Social media platform like Facebook has made it all possible, "assuming" that most of you are agreeing with me, something more of a retrospection, an evaluation by turning the pages of a dusty-old diary!

People these days seem to just need an excuse to upload a photo of themselves, especially the ones of the old times, and get nostalgic. 

A note of caution!

It is better to be mindful about the photos and information we share on the social media platforms.