Selfie stick

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A selfie stick is a long, extendable pole with a clamp on one end to hold a phone or small camera. It lets you take photos or videos from farther away and at angles you can’t reach with your arm alone. Many sticks have a button on the handle or a Bluetooth remote to trigger the camera. Some sticks for compact cameras have a mirror behind the screen to help line up the shot. Some longer models can even hold a laptop for webcam selfies. The design helps balance the device when it’s held aloft.

Selfie sticks have a long history of similar devices. A 1925 photo shows a man with a long stick for a self-portrait, and the idea appears in a 1969 sci‑fi film. The 1983 Minolta Disc-7 used a convex mirror to help compose selfies, and a 1983 patent described a telescoping extender. Modern popularity grew in the 2000s. Canadian inventor Wayne Fromm patented the Quik Pod in 2005. In 2012, Yeong-Ming Wang patented a multi‑axis extender for smartphones. The term “selfie stick” became common around 2014, and by 2015 there were many styles on the market. The concept drew hype and criticism alike, with praise for convenience and jokes about vanity. A Times Square selfie stick store opened in 2015, and Coca‑Cola later released a “selfie bottle” with a camera.

How to use it is simple: attach your device to the end, extend the stick, and press the shutter with a button on the handle or a remote, or use a timer. Some phones treat the stick’s plug as a headphone connection and trigger the camera when you press a control.

Selfie sticks are popular but controversial. Many venues ban them for safety or to avoid delays and annoyances, including all Disney parks, Universal parks, and several other theme parks. Museums, galleries, and historic sites—like the Palace of Versailles—often prohibit them. Some sports and concert venues also restrict their use. In 2014–2015, South Korea banned sales of unregistered Bluetooth sticks, and Apple banned sticks from its WWDC event. Despite bans, they remain widely used for travel and everyday photos.