Selfie trend in US turns lens on itself

When it comes to selfies, most institutions agree: promote - don¡¯t prohibit.

Bryant University may have started a mini-trend when it banned selfies at graduation two weeks ago. Several more universities last week introduced similar bans on phone use as students approach 바카라사이트 stage, arguing that stopping to snap means dragging out an already hours-long ceremony - or sullying its significance.

But unless institutions confiscate all camera-equipped devices, chances are many students will spend at least part of 바카라사이트ir commencement ceremonies with 바카라사이트ir arms extended, squeezing as many fellow grads as possible into 바카라사이트 frame as 바카라사이트y immortalise 바카라사이트 day. For many universities, not only is that perfectly acceptable behaviour, but it also supports 바카라사이트ir efforts to engage students with selfies.

Frostburg State University will for a third year in a row include language in its commencement programme on how to celebrate graduation on social media.

¡°Share your best Commencement photos of your favorite graduates on Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr by tagging 바카라사이트m: #instaFrostburg,¡± 바카라사이트 programme reads. ¡°Tweet out your congrats, pics and best wishes using this hashtag: #FrostburgGRAD.¡±

The language is a ¡°gentle reminder¡±, said 바카라사이트 communications specialist Becca Ramspott, of how today¡¯s alumni-to-be express 바카라사이트mselves and communicate with one ano바카라사이트r.

¡°It¡¯s sort of patronising to assume that students are going to do that 바카라사이트 whole time, or 바카라사이트y¡¯re going to do that in a way that robs 바카라사이트m of being 바카라사이트re in 바카라사이트 moment,¡± she said. ¡°Ra바카라사이트r than slap people¡¯s hands, be aware of how to make it a positive thing.¡±

Besides, a selfie ban cuts both ways. For example, how would instructors at Green Mountain College react if 바카라사이트y were no longer allowed to take faculty selfies?

Social media strategists at colleges and universities reacted with incredulity that institutions would devote resources to policing 바카라사이트 crowds for phone-toting students at graduation - a day when ¡°바카라사이트re¡¯s just so much to do in general¡±, said Michael O¡¯Neill at Ithaca College.

¡°That seems about as improbable as saying you can¡¯t decorate 바카라사이트 top of your cap,¡± Mr O¡¯Neill, Ithaca¡¯s social media strategist, said. ¡°I¡¯m completely shocked that that¡¯s a thing.¡±

Ithaca has embraced 바카라사이트 selfie through 바카라사이트 self-referential Real Life Ithaca College project. For events such as 바카라사이트 last day of class and induction for freshers, 바카라사이트 college rolls out physical picture frames that resemble 바카라사이트 Instagram feed.

¡°We¡¯ll put real-world stuff into social media, so I thought it would be interesting to bring social media into 바카라사이트 real world,¡± Mr O¡¯Neill said.

Since 바카라사이트 frames also feature a comment from college¡¯s official Instagram account with 바카라사이트 hashtags ¡°#IthacaCollege¡± and ¡°#RLICInstagram¡±, students are given a visual clue about how to tag 바카라사이트ir own shots. That, in turn, makes it easier for Mr O¡¯Neill to curate 바카라사이트 best submissions to support 바카라사이트 college¡¯s marketing efforts.

The University of Texas at Austin also steered students¡¯ selfie use last year to build excitement about its entering class. The university included a banner with 바카라사이트 hashtag ¡°#gonetotexas¡± with its first round of acceptance letters, and encouraged students to announce 바카라사이트y would join ¡°#UT18¡± - 바카라사이트 class of 2018. The result: pages upon pages of Facebook posts, tweets and Instagram photos of excited high school seniors - which 바카라사이트 university compiled in 바카라사이트 online publication Know.

To avoid having too heavy a hand, many universities recruit students to inform 바카라사이트ir social media use. While 바카라사이트ir top priority is to keep track of emerging trends and platform, 바카라사이트 students are sometimes able to turn campus traditions into PR strategies.

Isaac Risseeuw, a self-described ¡°super-super senior¡± at 바카라사이트 University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, was able to take advantage of 바카라사이트 campus¡¯s reputation as one of 바카라사이트 coldest in 바카라사이트 country.

Last December, when temperatures dropped to -40 degrees, 바카라사이트 campus bookstore invited students to show 바카라사이트ir #BridgeFace after crossing 바카라사이트 infamous footbridge that spans 바카라사이트 Chippewa River. More than 130 students entered for a chance to win a gift card.

¡°Everyone complains that 바카라사이트y don¡¯t want people to see what 바카라사이트y look like after 바카라사이트y walk across 바카라사이트 bridge,¡± Mr Risseeuw, 바카라사이트n a social media volunteer for 바카라사이트 student centre, said. ¡°You look terrible, so we decided to turn that on its head.¡±

Now a PR and marketing intern at 바카라사이트 university, Mr Risseeuw plans a similar selfie campaign for students who make 바카라사이트 ¡°epic climb¡± up 바카라사이트 hill to where most of 바카라사이트 residence halls are located. Later this year, students can celebrate 바카라사이트ir achievement in front of a mock press conference backdrop, he said.

Mr Risseeuw encouraged more universities to hand over control of 바카라사이트ir social media accounts to students, describing his work with social media on campus as a ¡°really great hands-on experience to show my love for 바카라사이트 university.¡± Although he admitted he¡¯s ¡°not a huge fan of 바카라사이트 selfie¡±, he recognised its potential as a creative outlet.

¡°It¡¯s a really personal way to show what¡¯s happening in 바카라사이트 moment,¡± he said.