The City In Europe Where Locals Are Probably Annoyed With You For Taking Selfies

It's almost impossible to travel anywhere popular without seeing someone snap a selfie at one point or another. Selfies officially became a thing with the rise of smartphones, and they have since blossomed into a social media phenomenon. The now-common word is a slang term for self-portraits, and the first use of "selfie" is believed to have originated in Australia. But taking self-portraits has been a thing for over a hundred years. Millennials were taking photos of themselves with digital cameras long before the first smartphone hit the market, and a 13-year old Russian Grand Duchess did it way back in 1913 (per The Atlantic). In fact, the first selfie ever taken is said to be from a man in 1839 (per Library of Congress). Most people consider taking selfies fun and harmless, even if it's a little vain. Surprisingly, in some parts of the world, there are people who never really got onboard the selfie bandwagon. Berlin, the capital of Germany, is one such place.

Berlin is one of Europe's trendiest destinations and one of the best cities to visit if you love to party, but the locals aren't exactly known for their friendly dispositions. When visiting Berlin, you might be better off keeping your phone in your pocket. If you do decide to take a selfie, don't be surprised if you get some dirty looks, or even a snide comment. Berliners do not appreciate it, and they aren't afraid to let you know.

Berliners don't adhere to the same cultural behaviors and social niceties that are common in other parts of the world, like the United States. You won't see many Germans smiling at strangers on the street, for example. That kind of behavior will definitely make locals think you're a bit strange in certain parts of Europe. There is a common stereotype that Berliners are cold, rude, and blunt because they aren't big on small talk. They aren't actually rude people — it's just a cultural difference. Their attitude towards selfies, and those who take them, is similar.

Selfies aren't as popular in Berlin as they are elsewhere in the world because, as a whole, the German people really value their privacy and freedom – perhaps due to the extreme government surveillance of citizens that took place before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. According to social media influencers, it's not uncommon for a Berliner to call you out if you capture them in the background of your selfie or video.

Berlin's iconic clubs may also play a role. The city is well known for its lively nightlife scene, and most clubs in the city have strict no-camera policies in place. In the age of Instagram stories, these rules may shock tourists, but they exist so that club-goers feel comfortable expressing themselves. The clubs are safe spaces for all types of people, including LGBTQIA+ patrons, to party without inhibition, unaccompanied by the anxiety of being captured on camera.

Berlin locals are known for their coolness and creativity. Some might find the all-black attire, anti-selfie attitude, and lack of smiles off-putting — especially if you're from the United States where every random stranger grins at you and selfies never seem to stop. On the flip side, it can be really refreshing for travelers to embrace the attitude of Berlin locals. Taking selfies or spending excessive amounts of time on social media can cause us to tune out our surroundings, which stops us from embracing the present moment. Furthermore, there are certain times when taking a selfie is obscene and inappropriate — like when you're visiting Berlin's Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, an unfortunately common practice among tourists.

There's no denying that social media, and selfies, are firmly embedded in our global culture. Our desire to document our travel memories is totally valid, but maybe Berliners have a point. Statistics show that the average American spends around 4.5 hours on their phone every single day (per Statista), and many of us take hundreds of selfies a year. Scrolling through my own camera roll, I noticed that at least a quarter of my travel photos are selfies — with zero identifying scenery in the background to remind me of a particularly poignant or meaningful travel moment. Perhaps a trip to Berlin is the perfect opportunity to put the phones away, stop looking at our own reflections in the front-facing camera, and simply observe and appreciate the world around us.