A new term was given to people who take too many photos of the "selfie" type. Although it may seem funny, there are some serious concerns about this obsession. The constant need of a person to "selfies" has serious consequences for his mental health. Experts say this is a new disease and is manifested in many ways.

The term was introduced for the first time in 2014 to describe the ideological obsession of "selfies" and their publication in social networks; this new trend is considered to be a mental illness, as reported by the American Psychiatric Society.

Psychologists in India and the United Kingdom are alarming about this self-esteemed need for "selfies". Selfitis is a psychological problem of people who feel the need to constantly publish photos with their faces on social networks.

Researchers at Nottingham Trent University and Thiagarajar School of Management in India have investigated a framework for assessing the severity of "selfies." They explain that there are three parts of this situation: "borderline", "acute" and "chronic.

The "borderline" category includes people taking photos at least three times a day but not publishing them on social networks.

People who are in the acute phase of the disease, take at least three "selfies" a day and publish them on social media.

In the third phase of this persistence, social network users experience an uncontrolled (acute) "chronic" need to "self", and publish photos at least six times a day in social media.

These people are people who need attention from third parties and often show a lack of self-confidence. They also hope that publishing "selfies" will improve their social position and that they can join a group they want.

We live in a century where technology is part of our lives. Social networks have become a whole public "album" where most users publish photos with absolutely everything that happens in their lives. Especially with selfie photos.

In such cases, we should inform this person about the dangers of this trend and fashion and advise him/her to visit a mental health specialist in order to overcome this persistence.

The effects in some cases are so painful and without a comeback, for a "perfect" "selfie" with many "likes" many young people have lost their lives, for a fictitious world and for a false satisfaction.

Anna Papetta, Psychologist, B.A.,

Trainee Clinical Psychologist at the Veresies Clinic