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No Selfies Day

A fun observance on March 16 promoting a break from selfies to encourage living in the moment and reduce obsession with self-photography and social media validation.

Tuesday

March 2027

Last updated February 26, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATEMarch 16

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYTech

SUBCATEGORYSocial Media

ORIGIN

Community Origin

FOUNDING ENTITY

Not documented

FIRST OBSERVED

Not documented

HOW THE HOLIDAY CAME TO BE

The history, origin, and founder of this observance are unknown. It falls on March 16, the birthday of Philippe Kahn, inventor of the cell phone camera, though this appears coincidental. No legislative or proclamation details have been found.

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INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Let's all put down our phones and unplug from the selfie obsession on No Selfies Day, March 16! This holiday was created to promote self-love and healthy body image by taking a break from oversharing photos of ourselves online. It is also a great excuse to get out into nature or just enjoy some quality time with friends sans camera.

TIMELINE

No Selfies Day Timeline

Invention of Photography

In the 19th century, photography was invented and the ability to capture oneself in a "selfie" became possible, although it was quite rare due to the complexity and cost of early cameras.

Term "Selfie" Coined

An Australian man coined the term "selfie" after posting a photo of his lip he had stitched up after a party.

Instagram Launches

Instagram launched, quickly becoming a popular platform for selfies and drastically changing the landscape of photo sharing.

"Selfie" Oxford's Word of the Year

Oxford Dictionaries named "selfie" the Word of the Year, reflecting its widespread usage and cultural significance.

"Selfie" Enters the Dictionary

The term "selfie" was officially added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

First No Selfies Day

In response to the selfie craze and to promote self-love and healthy body image, No Selfies Day was created and recognized on March 16.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate No Selfies Day

Share a meaningful photo

Post a meaningful photo that you’ve taken of something or someone else. This could be a beautiful sunset, your pet, or a meaningful moment between friends and family.

WRITE

Write a thoughtful post

Write a post about why selfies are bad for self-esteem and why it’s important to embrace the beauty in all kinds of people, regardless of what they look like.

LEAVE

Leave nice comments

Leave some uplifting comments on friends’ photos that are not selfies. Compliment them on how good they look but focus more on their character and personality traits.

Be kind to yourself

Take some time to practice self care and do something that makes you feel good about yourself. Take a bubble bath, read a book, go for a walk, talk to a friend, etc.

ENGAGE

Engage in an activity

Do something that doesn’t involve taking pictures of yourself or posting anything online. Instead, go out and explore your city with friends or try something new like rock climbing.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love No Selfies Day

No selfie day encourages appreciation for nature

By focusing less on ourselves and more on our environment, No Selfie Day helps promote a greater understanding of how our actions affect the world around us. It also teaches us to appreciate beautiful natural landscapes without needing to have them immortalized electronically. Taking time out of your day on this observance is sure to be beneficial as a reminder to be conscious of nature!

No selfie day encourages thoughtful reflection

No Selfies Day is a day dedicated to taking a break from the constant selfies we tend to take in our daily lives. Instead of getting bogged down by vanity, it gives us an opportunity to pause and think more deeply about our everyday experiences. This can help us recognize the beauty in life's simple moments that are often overlooked.

No selfie day promotes meaningful connections

When you take the time to look up from your phone and engage with the people around you, it can create more meaningful interactions and lasting memories than any photo or post ever could. Spending time connecting with others without being filtered through a camera lens can boost confidence, foster stronger relationships and ultimately make us better citizens of the world!