( CNN ) -- We are the most narcissistic generation in American history . And when I say `` generation '' -- I 'm not pointing my finger at millennials , gen X/Yers , or baby boomers . The generation I speak of is defined by people who use social media to incessantly share information about their favorite topic : themselves . I , too , am part of this `` selfie generation . '' ( And if you do n't know what `` selfie '' means , you 're not . ) We knew `` selfie '' had become emblematic of who we are when the Oxford Dictionary recently named it as 2013 's word of the year . `` Narcissistic ? '' you say . `` What can you mean ? '' Well , the new craze of `` funeral selfies '' is a clue : People snap a self-portrait in front of the body at a wake and share it on social media . For some , these selfies may actually be a way of grieving , but for others , it 's clearly about drawing attention to themselvesâ€ ” even away from the recently deceased . Selfies are but the tip of the iceberg for my `` selfie-centered '' generation . We have already seen how Twitter has allowed so many , including myself , to tweet their most inane thoughts : a shared delusion that everything we say is so interesting/compelling/funny that it must be immediately offered to the world . And , of course , Facebook , the granddaddy of social media , is a great way to share every mundane event in your life . We 've all read Facebook status updates like : `` I 'm eating potato chips '' or `` Have to use bathroom , be back soon . '' Now there 's also photobombing , where people sneak into the background of a photo being taken of someone else right before it 's snapped . Even celebrities are photobombing . Just last week , actor Zach Braff ( allegedly ) photobombed a couple taking wedding photos . He promptly tweeted this , causing the photo to go viral . And I say Braff `` allegedly '' photobombed the couple because there are now apps that enable you to photobomb yourself into any picture . Some of these pictures can truly be funny , but there 's no denying that many photobomb because they want to upstage the photo 's intended subjects -- another example of our desperate , never-ending need for attention . To be clear , I 'm in no way judging others in in my `` selfie generation , '' although funeral selfies are kinda creepy . Sharing our thoughts and experiences on social media is now part of our DNA , a reflex action without a second thought . Most of us are aware of our collective self-centeredness . In fact , when I was contemplating writing this article , I tweeted out the question : `` Are we the most self-absorbed generation ? '' The response was overwhelmingly : `` Yes . '' But I did hear this defense often : If the generations before us had access to the same technology we do , they would have acted just like us . Hard to argue with that . Why would n't Neil Armstrong have taken a selfie after he stepped onto the moon with the Earth positioned behind him ? ( Which would 've been one of the greatest selfies ever . ) Are you saying no one would have photobombed pictures taken at Woodstock or at anti-Vietnam war rallies ? Or that Elvis would n't have tweeted photos of himself wearing a new sequin-studded jumpsuit that would have quickly gone viral ? This is who we are and there 's no chance of going back . In fact , future technological advancements will undoubtedly make it even easier for us to share information about ourselves in ways we ca n't imagine now . But the legacy of our `` selfie generation '' must be more than just photobombing a friend 's picture or gloating when one of our tweets is retweeted to infinity . Our generation has an opportunity with these social media platforms to raise awareness about issues we personally believe need to be addressed . It can be as simple as taking a selfie as you walk past a soup kitchenâ€ ” or better yet , help out in one -- and sharing it on social media . Maybe that will inspire others to volunteer at one or at least make a donation . Why not use a photobomb app to insert yourself into an image of an impoverished child to bring attention to the 16 million children in the United States who live below the poverty line ? Or tweet a photo of a U.S. military veteran to raise awareness about the 22 veterans who commit suicide every day or the wounded veterans who still need our support . The list of issues , from countering domestic violence to the bloodshed in Syria , goes on and on . Let 's use our love for sharing information about ourselves to also share information about the issues for which we feel passionate concern , especially during this holiday season . OK , be self-absorbed , but be self-absorbed for a cause . To me , that 's the good kind of self-centered . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dean Obeidallah .
Dean Obeidallah : The social media generation is the most narcissistic generation . He says new example is `` funeral selfies '' -- posing with dead person -- to draw attention . Twitter , Facebook have long allowed this self-centeredness . Why not turn it to good cause ? Obeidallah : I think that we need a revolution in our culture and society where people are more aware of their own self - worth.