Some people refer to pictures taken with their phone in their hand as a selfie because the term selfie typically refers to a photograph that is taken of oneself, often with a smartphone or webcam, and shared on social media. The term has become popular in recent years with the rise of social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat, where users frequently share selfies as a way of documenting their daily lives and expressing themselves.
When taking a selfie, the phone's camera shows a mirror image of the person, which makes it easier for them to frame the picture. However, when the picture is actually taken, it is exactly as it appears through the lens, without the mirror image. This can result in the appearance of left and right swapping sides when the picture is viewed after it has been taken. Despite this, the term selfie is still commonly used to describe pictures taken with a phone in the hand, as it has become a widely recognized and accepted term for this type of photograph.