Cambodia & Society: Selfie Nation — In Cambodia and Asia, the Self-Portrait Reigns Supreme

The selfie phenomenon — meaning "a self-portrait taken with a smartphone" — likely counts several million devotees in the Kingdom. A trend that is only growing stronger (that's putting it mildly) among young and not-so-young alike, but one that also raises a few questions.

Selfie session at Europark

The Kingdom, Territory of the Selfie

Walk through Europark in Penh Huout, the gardens of the Sihanouk Memorial, or the banks of Koh Pich on a Friday evening: telescopic poles, portable ring lights, tripods unfolded on the grass — selfies are taken here with a seriousness and level of equipment that commands respect. Some people even bring a change of outfit to vary the backdrops. Here, the care given to one's image is not vanity: it is a culture.

And the numbers confirm it.

In 2025, Cambodia counts 14 million active social media users, representing 77.9% of the population, in a country where mobile connectivity reaches 121% — nearly every resident owns several SIM cards. Facebook dominates with 12.9 million users, followed by TikTok with 10.7 million users aged 18 and over. TikTok, in particular, has become the preferred arena for 18-to-24-year-olds in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap: its algorithm, fuelled by Khmer pop music, creates local celebrities overnight, while street food and fashion brands sell through influencers.

A Region Wired Like No Other

Cambodia is not an isolated case: it reflects a Southeast Asia that is definitively mobile-first. The region counts 201 million active social media users, and 59.2% of Asian internet users connect exclusively or primarily via their smartphones. South Korea boasts the highest social media penetration rate in the Asia-Pacific zone (93.4%), followed by Hong Kong at 86.2%. Globally, Android devices alone generate 93 million selfies per day, and among 18-to-24-year-olds, one in three photos is a self-portrait. Cumulatively, some 78 billion selfies are taken each year, and each individual spends an average of 54 hours per year — roughly 7 minutes per day — photographing themselves.

The Unexpected Ancestor

Before smiling too quickly at contemporary frenzy, it is worth recalling that the photographic self-portrait has a history. Robert Cornelius, an American photography pioneer, produced what is considered the first selfie in 1839: he would uncover the lens, run into the frame, hold his pose, then return to replace the cap.

A laborious process requiring several minutes, compared to the fraction of a second it takes a smartphone today. He had no idea that a billion followers would be perpetuating his gesture less than two centuries later.

When the Filter Replaces the Mirror

Behind the apparent lightness of the selfie lies a documented psychological reality, particularly visible in societies where image culture is very strong. Where patients once came to a cosmetic surgeon with a photo of their favourite celebrity, they now arrive with their own filtered version as the goal to achieve, according to Dr. Tijion Esho, a London-based surgeon who coined the term "Snapchat dysmorphia."

In 2022, a survey by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery revealed that 79% of plastic surgeons reported patients seeking to improve their appearance in order to look better in their selfies.

In 2024, next-generation TikTok filters such as "Bold Glamour" or "Teenage Look" became so realistic that they transform the face pixel by pixel, in a way that is nearly undetectable.

We are a long way from Snapchat's first dog-ear filters — and very close, for some users, to a profoundly altered perception of self. A 2024 study indicates that 61% of regular beauty filter users report dissatisfaction with their natural appearance.

Asia, a Tragic Epicentre

The selfie also has a deadly side, and Asia bears the heaviest burden. India holds the unenviable title of the most deadly destination for selfies: between March 2014 and May 2025, 271 selfie-related incidents were recorded — including 214 deaths — accounting for 42.1% of victims worldwide. Falls from cliffs, train accidents, and drownings are among the most frequent causes.

Indonesia, Pakistan, and Australia also feature in the global top 10 of most affected countries. Mount Hua in China, known for its vertiginous paths carved into the rock, is also listed among the planet's most dangerous selfie spots.

In total, between 2014 and June 2024, at least 425 selfie-related deaths were documented worldwide, with estimates reaching 480 by the end of 2024. The victims are overwhelmingly young, overwhelmingly connected, and often driven by the same logic: to surpass the previous image, accumulate reactions, exist in the eyes of others.

Robert Cornelius and the first selfie in history

The process was far longer than today — he would first have to uncover the lens, then run into the frame, hold his expression, and finally return to replace the lens cap. He certainly had no idea of the number of enthusiasts his initiative would inspire today.

"It's for My Friends"

Ask selfie-takers in action — in Phnom Penh as in Jakarta or Hanoi — and the answer is invariably the same, and it is sincere: "It's for my friends." In cities where traffic jams and distances make meeting up difficult, the selfie has become a substitute for presence, a way of saying I am here, I am living, I am sharing. A genuine social function, amplified by Covid, which permanently normalised remote relationships.

The Kingdom, with its young population (median age: 26), its strong oral culture, and its rapid adoption of mobile technology, is a particularly fertile ground for this practice. Different times, different technologies, different customs — but perhaps always the same fundamental need: to be seen.