Parents' Guide to

Selfie

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

So-so sitcom shows teens downside of social media excess.

TV ABC Comedy 2014
Selfie Poster Image

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What's the Story?

Determined to put years of being a social outsider behind her, Eliza Dooley (Karen Gillan) turns to social media to reinvent her image and now happily boasts that she's loved by 263,000 followers. But when an embarrassing incident becomes a viral sensation, Eliza learns that virtual fame is fickle at best and that real friends are a rare commodity. Desperate to strike a happy medium, she enlists the help of her coworker Henry (John Cho) to once again "rebrand" herself (a modern My Fair Lady initiative). Henry's initial hesitation to help Eliza, whom he considers a lost cause of narcissism, eventually gives way to a surprising affection as she slowly learns how to relate to people. What's even more surprising, though, is how the experience affects him.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

SELFIE is a comical commentary on our app-crazed modern society as it's represented by the excessively shallow Eliza. One hopes that her narcissism is the exception rather than the rule, of course, but it's hard to watch her obsessive posting, status checks, and, yes, selfies and not consider how your own digital behavior might compare. Even at lesser levels, there's no arguing that social media has changed how we present ourselves and how we relate to other people, and this show attempts to weigh the benefits of this shift against the potential damage it's done to interpersonal relationships.

Even so, Selfie seems geared more toward teens than adults, who will quickly tire of being smacked in the face by its glaringly obvious messages. It doesn't hint at its themes; it spells them out in insightful dialogue that gives the story an air of repetition even as it delivers some really decent substance. The characters' foibles are entertaining to watch, and it's hard not to feel some sympathy for Eliza. If nothing else, this series is a lighthearted way to start a conversation with your teens about the ups and downs of social media.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the draw of social media. What entices users to share their experiences on sites such as Facebook and Instagram? Are there benefits to doing so? In what ways does it facilitate relationships with friends and family?

  • Teens: Do you believe everything you see online? How does social media allow users to create facades? Does this put new pressures on you to maintain a certain image in person?

  • Talk with your teens about your family's rules for the Internet. What kinds of things are not appropriate to share online? Is anything online really private? What constitutes cyberbullying?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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