No More Selfies With Barack Obama! Here’s Why

Former President Barack Obama announced that he will no longer be taking selfies with people.

Former President Barrack Obama announced at the Obama Foundation Summit that he will no longer be taking selfies with people. 

(Photo courtesy: AP)

In the opening remarks of the two-day Obama Foundation Summit held at Chicago on Tuesday and Wednesday, former President Barack Obama stated that he and his wife will no longer be taking any selfies.

The reason he offered, as reported by USA Today, is that not only is it impersonal, but it also works more as a divider than a connector.

This seems trivial, but it’s not. One of the weird things about being president is I found people were no longer looking me in the eye.

Barack Obama, former President of the USA (as reported by USA Today)

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In his typical engaging way, Obama explained that since his time as President, he couldn’t walk two steps without being accosted by a fan wishing to take a selfie with him.

While he complied for the longest time, he has finally had enough of people appreciating the interaction only so they can post it on social media, instead of actually savouring the moment, reports AOL News.

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But blocking yourself from having a conversation or seeing somebody and recognising them and listening to them because you are so busy trying to get a picture ... then you are, I think, in some ways, contributing to what separates us rather than trying to break through.

Former President Barrack Obama, as reported by AOL News

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The aim of the two-day long Summit saw some of the greatest global names in attendance. People like Prince Harry, Lin-Manuel Miranda and yoghurt magnate and philanthropist Hamdi Ulukaya were among those present.

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(With inputs from USA Today and AOL News.)