---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A selfie, like any photograph, interrupts…"
description: "\"A selfie, like any photograph, interrupts experience to mark the moment. In this, it shares something with all the other ways we break up our day: when..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ceb/sherry-turkle-2764_day_a-selfie-like-any-photograph-interrupts_3094974.jpg"
---

#  A selfie, like any photograph, interrupts experience to…

![“A selfie, like any photograph, interrupts experience to mark the moment. In this, it shares something with all the other ways we break up our day: when we text during class, in meetings, at the theater, at dinners with friends.” quote by Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ceb/sherry-turkle-2764_day_a-selfie-like-any-photograph-interrupts_3094974.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ceb/sherry-turkle-2764_day_a-selfie-like-any-photograph-interrupts_3094974.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ceb/sherry-turkle-2764_day_a-selfie-like-any-photograph-interrupts_3094974.jpg)

> “A selfie, like any photograph, interrupts experience to mark the moment. In this, it shares something with all the other ways we break up our day: when we text during class, in meetings, at the theater, at dinners with friends.”

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Selfies and similar interruptions fragment real experience, turning moments into documented events rather than lived ones.

**In simple terms:** Taking photos breaks immersion in the present.

Key Takeaway

Pause before you capture.

Themes

technology attention social behavior

Mood

contemplative concerned

Type

sociological technological

When to use this quote

- classroom
- meetings
- theater
- social gatherings

Key Concepts

digital distraction self‑presentation media consumption

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we feel compelled to record?
- How can we balance presence and sharing?

A Different Perspective

Constant documentation can erode deep engagement.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [The selfie, like all technology, causes us to reflect on our human values. This is a good thing because it challenges us to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/the-selfie-like-all-technology-causes-us-to-reflect-on-our-human/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [“I thought you weren’t allowed to have a phone,” he says. “Or was that a really pathetic excuse to avoid giving me your number?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-thought-you-weren-t-allowed-to-have-a-phone-he-says-or-was-that-a/)

[Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/)

> [I was dating this guy and we would spend all day text messaging each other. And he thought that he could tell that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-osbourne/i-was-dating-this-guy-and-we-would-spend-all-day-text-messaging-each/)

[Kelly Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-osbourne/)

> [It's sometimes a little embarrassing to take selfies, but sometimes I want to take a selfie because I'm like, 'Oh I look cute. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/it-s-sometimes-a-little-embarrassing-to-take-selfies-but-sometimes-i/)

[Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/)

> [Selfies became too big. The selfie photos are not good. Fans ask me for a selfie, and I say, 'Let's just do a photo.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marin-cilic/selfies-became-too-big-the-selfie-photos-are-not-good-fans-ask-me-for/)

Marin Cilic

> [If I post a selfie, and you like it, it's of little cost to you, but it feels great to me. That becomes addictive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stolz/if-i-post-a-selfie-and-you-like-it-it-s-of-little-cost-to-you-but-it/)

[Kim Stolz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stolz/)

> [I've never liked the word 'celebrity.' I like to photograph people who are good at what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/i-ve-never-liked-the-word-celebrity-i-like-to-photograph-people-who/)

[Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/)

> [I choose colors I like and will photograph well. I don't do color theory!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-choose-colors-i-like-and-will-photograph-well-i-don-t-do-color/)

[Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/)

> [As far as the surface is concerned - oil on canvas, conventionally applied - my pictures have little to do with the original photograph.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/as-far-as-the-surface-is-concerned-oil-on-canvas-conventionally/)

[Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/)

> [“Murder develops. Yes, like a photograph, isn't it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/murder-develops-yes-like-a-photograph-isn-t-it/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [In my photographic work I'm generally attracted to places that contain memories, history, atmospheres and stories. I'm interested in the places where people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kenna/in-my-photographic-work-i-m-generally-attracted-to-places-that/)

[Michael Kenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kenna/)

> [“Most people feel that the world looks like the photograph. I've always assumed that the photograph is nearly right, but that little bit by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gayford/most-people-feel-that-the-world-looks-like-the-photograph-i-ve-always/)

[Martin Gayford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gayford/)

> [I don't have anything to say in any picture. My only interest in photography is to see what something looks like as a photograph.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-don-t-have-anything-to-say-in-any-picture-my-only-interest-in/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [It's like he would take a photograph of Sam, and the photograph would be beautiful. And he would think that the reason the photograph…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/it-s-like-he-would-take-a-photograph-of-sam-and-the-photograph-would/)

[Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/)

> [ Content to me is very important, but I like it when \[the photograph\] is also enigmatic. If you don't know what it is you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gutmann/content-to-me-is-very-important-but-i-like-it-when-the-photograph-is/)

John Gutmann

## More by Sherry Turkle

> [“From watching children play with objects designed as “amusements,” we come to a new place, a place of cold comforts. Child and adult, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/from-watching-children-play-with-objects-designed-as-amusements-we/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [“I said that we use digital “passbacks” to placate young children who say they are bored. We are not teaching them that boredom can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/i-said-that-we-use-digital-passbacks-to-placate-young-children-who/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [“enduring technological optimism, a belief that as other things go wrong, science will go right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/enduring-technological-optimism-a-belief-that-as-other-things-go/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [Conversation is the most human and humanizing thing that we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/conversation-is-the-most-human-and-humanizing-thing-that-we-do/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [“In the classic children’s story The Velveteen Rabbit, a stuffed animal becomes “real” because of a child’s love. Tamagotchis do not wait passively but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/in-the-classic-children-s-story-the-velveteen-rabbit-a-stuffed-animal/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [Human relationships are rich and they're messy and they're demanding. And we clean them up with technology. Texting, email, posting, all of these things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/human-relationships-are-rich-and-they-re-messy-and-they-re-demanding/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [“But at the same time, there is pressure to use technology in classroom in ways that make conversation nearly impossible. Interestingly, this technology is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/but-at-the-same-time-there-is-pressure-to-use-technology-in-classroom/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [I have to fight the impulse to use my phone as an alarm clock rather than leaving it in another room. If I don't,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/i-have-to-fight-the-impulse-to-use-my-phone-as-an-alarm-clock-rather/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [It all stems from the same thing - which is that when we are face to face - and this is what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/it-all-stems-from-the-same-thing-which-is-that-when-we-are-face-to/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [“The new technologies allow us to “dial down” human contact, to titrate its nature and extent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/the-new-technologies-allow-us-to-dial-down-human-contact-to-titrate/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [We think constant connection will make us feel less lonely. The opposite is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/we-think-constant-connection-will-make-us-feel-less-lonely-the/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [If you're happy with where the Internet, Facebook, and Twitter have taken you, I'm not the Grinch. Someone called me Sherry Turkle's "evil Luddite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/if-you-re-happy-with-where-the-internet-facebook-and-twitter-have/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [My highest value is not that the trains are on time. I want to be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/my-highest-value-is-not-that-the-trains-are-on-time-i-want-to-be-free/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [The selfie, like all technology, causes us to reflect on our human values. This is a good thing because it challenges us to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/the-selfie-like-all-technology-causes-us-to-reflect-on-our-human/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [Technology doesn't just do things for us. It does things to us, changing not just what we do but who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/technology-doesn-t-just-do-things-for-us-it-does-things-to-us/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

[Explore all 151 Sherry Turkle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

## More Day quotes

> [On Sundays, that's my pig out day and I do the pizza and the beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-silvstedt/on-sundays-that-s-my-pig-out-day-and-i-do-the-pizza-and-the-beer/)

[Victoria Silvstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-silvstedt/)

> [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/)

[Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/)

> [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/)

[Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/)

> [I had developed a relationship with one of the anti-abortion sidewalk counselors who stood in front of my facility. We talked regularly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-had-developed-a-relationship-with-one-of-the-anti-abortion-sidewalk/)

[Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/)

> [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/)

[Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/)

[LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/)

> [Valentine's Day: Rubbing singles' noses in their lack of a mate and the noses of couples in their lack of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mclaughlin/valentine-s-day-rubbing-singles-noses-in-their-lack-of-a-mate-and-the/)

[Emma McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mclaughlin/)

> [One day I woke up and Juventus wanted me, another Manchester United and what I know is that there were approaches made. But an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-jimenez/one-day-i-woke-up-and-juventus-wanted-me-another-manchester-united/)

[Raul Jimenez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-jimenez/)

> [I think naturally I've been kind of a lead-by-doing guy. Just showing up to work every day. You never ask teammates something you wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/i-think-naturally-i-ve-been-kind-of-a-lead-by-doing-guy-just-showing/)

[Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/)

> [For 11 straight years, I woke up pretty much every single day with nothing to do unless I created something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rife/for-11-straight-years-i-woke-up-pretty-much-every-single-day-with/)

[Matt Rife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rife/)

> [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/)

[Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/)

> [Being under-recruited coming out of Highland, I've carried that with me. I keep pushing forward, keep working hard every day, keep my head on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-daniels/being-under-recruited-coming-out-of-highland-i-ve-carried-that-with/)

[Mike Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-daniels/)

> [You can't cheat comedy. You know, it either is going to be there on the day you capture or it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/you-can-t-cheat-comedy-you-know-it-either-is-going-to-be-there-on-the/)

[Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/)

[Browse all 18,587 Day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A selfie, like any photograph, interrupts experience to mark the moment. In this, it shares something with all the other ways we break up our day: when we text during class, in meetings, at the theater, at dinners with friends.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sherry Turkle"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/a-selfie-like-any-photograph-interrupts-experience-to-mark-the-moment/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Day"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/a-selfie-like-any-photograph-interrupts-experience-to-mark-the-moment/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ceb/sherry-turkle-2764_day_a-selfie-like-any-photograph-interrupts_3094974.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ceb/sherry-turkle-2764_day_a-selfie-like-any-photograph-interrupts_3094974.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ceb/sherry-turkle-2764_day_a-selfie-like-any-photograph-interrupts_3094974.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A selfie, like any photograph, interrupts experience to mark the moment. In this, it shares something with…” — Sherry Turkle",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Sherry Turkle",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A selfie, like any photograph, interrupts...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/a-selfie-like-any-photograph-interrupts-experience-to-mark-the-moment/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/a-selfie-like-any-photograph-interrupts-experience-to-mark-the-moment/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
