Taking selfies and posting them on social media is often derided as a narcissistic, self-absorbed, and attention-seeking practice. Filters come in for particular disdain due to the role they play in reinforcing unattainable beauty standards, by making faces lighter, slimmer, and wider-eyed than is natural.

Yet feminist, minority, and queer activists have argued selfies can be a way for people to represent and take pride in their identity, sexuality, and gender orientation. And recently, my own experiences researching gender, smart cities, and urban citizenship in India have led me to see the value of selfies in a new and surprising way. …

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