who invented the selfie stick

The Selfie Stick is a global phenomenon—used by travelers, celebrities, and everyday people to capture group photos, scenic self-portraits, and memorable moments. But ask who invented the selfie stick, and the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think. While the Selfie Stick exploded in popularity with the rise of smartphones in the 2010s, its roots stretch back nearly a century, with multiple inventors and prototypes laying the groundwork. This 2025 news guide dives into the fascinating history of the Selfie Stick, resolves the debate over who truly invented it, explores its journey from “useless invention” to must-have gadget, and shares fun facts that will surprise even diehard selfie fans. SEO-focused keyword placement ensures better Google indexing, while engaging storytelling keeps readers hooked from start to finish.
The Early Roots: Pre-Smartphone Selfie Stick Prototypes (1920s–1990s)
Long before iPhones and Bluetooth remotes, the concept of a Selfie Stick existed—born out of the frustration of capturing self-portraits with bulky early cameras. Here are the key milestones that paved the way:
1925: The First Known “Selfie Stick” Photo
The earliest evidence of a device resembling aSelfie Stick dates to 1925. A black-and-white photo from that year shows British couple Arnold and Helen Hogg taking a self-portrait with a long stick pointed at their camera. At the time, amateur box cameras couldn’t capture sharp selfies at arm’s length, so photographers relied on remote shutter tools like cables or sticks to get the shot . While this wasn’t a commercial product, it’s the first documented use of the Selfie Stick concept.
1969: A Sci-Fi Preview of the Selfie Stick
In a fun twist, a device nearly identical to a modern Selfie Stick appeared in the 1969 Czechoslovak sci-fi filmI Killed Einstein, Gentlemen. One character holds a silver stick in front of herself and a friend, smiles as the stick flashes (like a camera), and immediately pulls a printed photo from its handle . While this was a prop, it’s eerily similar to the Selfie Stick we know today—proving the idea was ahead of its time.
1983: The First Patented “Selfie Stick” Prototypes
The 1980s saw the first official patents for Selfie Stick-like devices. In 1983, Japanese inventors Hiroshi Ueda and Yujiro Mima patented a “telescopic extender” for compact handheld cameras—a telescoping pole designed to hold a camera and help users take self-portraits . That same year, the Minolta Disc-7 camera included a convex mirror for self-portrait composition, and its packaging even showed the camera mounted on a stick for that purpose . These were the first commercial attempts at a Selfie Stick, but they never caught on—largely because cameras were still too bulky for everyday use.
1995: The “Useless Invention” Label
In 1995, a Japanese Selfie Stick prototype was featured in a book titled 101 Un-Useless Japanese Inventions, where it was dismissed as a gimmick alongside items like “glasses for reading while lying down” . At the time, without smartphones or easy-to-use digital cameras, the Selfie Stick was seen as unnecessary—proof that timing is everything for inventions.

The Modern Selfie Stick: Key Inventors & the Road to Mainstream (2000s–2010s)
The debate over who invented the selfie stick centers on two key figures who turned the prototype into a commercial success: Wayne Fromm and Yeong-Ming Wang. Here’s their story:
2002–2005: Wayne Fromm’s Quik Pod
Canadian inventor Wayne Fromm is widely credited with creating the modern Selfie Stick. The idea struck him during a 2002 family vacation in Florence, Italy, when he struggled to fit himself and his daughter in a photo without asking strangers for help . Fromm, who had over 40 years of experience inventing consumer products (including Disney toys), set to work designing a portable, telescoping pole that could safely hold a camera. He studied umbrella mechanics and magnet sensors to create a durable, easy-to-use device .
In 2005, Fromm filed a patent for his invention, which he named the “Quik Pod” . The patent was granted in 2006, and the Quik Pod launched commercially in the U.S. that same year . At the time, smartphones were still in their early days (the first iPhone launched in 2007), so the Quik Pod was designed for compact digital cameras. It sold modestly at first, but Fromm continued to promote it—even as copycat copies began popping up after he sold some patents in 2008 .

As smartphones with built-in cameras became ubiquitous in the early 2010s, the Selfie Stick finally found its moment. In 2012, Taiwanese inventor Yeong-Ming Wang filed a patent for a “multi-axis omni-directional shooting extender”—a Selfie Stick specifically designed to hold smartphones . This design included a phone clamp and compatibility with Bluetooth remotes, solving the two biggest pain points for smartphone users: securing their device and taking the shot without touching the screen.

By 2013, the Selfie Stick exploded in popularity, starting in Jakarta, Indonesia, before spreading to other Asian countries and eventually the globe . In 2014, it was named one of the “Best Inventions of the Year” by Time magazine . Suddenly, everyone from tourists to celebrities (including Barack Obama and Park Geun-hye) was using a Selfie Stick to capture moments. Wayne Fromm argued that his Quik Pod was the catalyst for this boom, telling reporters: “I trigger the ‘selfie stick craze’ with my 2005 invention—not products from 20 or 30 years ago. Without my decades of promotion, the Selfie Stick as we know it wouldn’t exist.” .

So, who invented the selfie stick? The answer depends on how you define it:
      Earliest Concept (1925): Arnold and Helen Hogg, who used a stick to take a selfie—though it wasn’t a commercial product.First Patented Prototypes (1983): Hiroshi Ueda and Yujiro Mima (Japanese telescopic extender) and Minolta (camera stick packaging).Modern Commercial Inventor (2005): Wayne Fromm, whose Quik Pod was the first patented, mass-produced Selfie Stick designed for consumer use.Smartphone Adaptor (2012): Yeong-Ming Wang, who optimized the Selfie Stick for the smartphone era, fueling its global popularity.

Most experts agree that Wayne Fromm deserves the title of “modern Selfie Stick inventor” because he turned the concept into a commercial product and laid the groundwork for its mainstream success. However, the Selfie Stick is truly a “evolutionary invention”—built on decades of prototypes and improvements.

Beyond the debate over who invented the selfie stick, these fun facts highlight why the Selfie Stick is such a cultural icon:

· In 2015, major museums (including New York’s Met and the Smithsonian) banned Selfie Sticks over fears they’d damage artwork or disturb other visitors .

· The average Selfie Stick extends from 20 cm to 120 cm (8 inches to 47 inches) and weighs less than 200 grams .

· Over 10 million Selfie Sticks were sold in the U.S. alone in 2014, with prices ranging from $10 to $100 .

· Shenzhen, China, is the global hub for Selfie Stick manufacturing—producing over 90% of the world’s supply .

· Wayne Fromm holds over 50 patents, including Disney’s Beauty and the Beast magic talking mirror and the Snoopy Magic Mixer .

Q: Who invented the selfie stick first?

A: The earliest documented use of a Selfie Stick-like device was in 1925 by British couple Arnold and Helen Hogg. However, the first patented commercial Selfie Stick was the Quik Pod, invented by Canadian Wayne Fromm in 2005. Japanese inventors Hiroshi Ueda and Yujiro Mima also patented a telescopic camera extender in 1983 .

Q: When did the Selfie Stick become popular?

A: The Selfie Stick exploded in popularity in 2013–2014, thanks to the rise of smartphones with high-quality cameras and Bluetooth remotes. It was named one of Time magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2014” and quickly became a must-have gadget for travelers and social media users .

Q: Was the Selfie Stick ever considered a “useless invention”?

A: Yes! In 1995, a Japanese Selfie Stick prototype was featured in a book called 101 Un-Useless Japanese Inventions, where it was mocked as a gimmick. At the time, without smartphones, the device was seen as unnecessary—proving that timing is crucial for invention success .

Q: Did Wayne Fromm make money from the Selfie Stick?

A: Wayne Fromm sold his Quik Pod Selfie Stick commercially starting in 2006, but he later regretted selling some patents in 2008—leading to widespread counterfeiting. While he didn’t become a billionaire, he’s credited with popularizing the Selfie Stick and remains a respected inventor in the consumer gadget industry .

Q: Are there different types of Selfie Sticks?

A: Yes! Modern Selfie Sticks come in three main types: basic telescopic (no remote), Bluetooth-enabled (with a remote shutter), and 3-in-1 (combines a selfie stick, tripod, and phone stand). Some high-end models even include LED lights for better photos in low light.

The debate over who invented the selfie stick reminds us that innovation is rarely a one-person job. From the 1925 stick used by the Hoggs to Wayne Fromm’s Quik Pod and Yeong-Ming Wang’s smartphone adaptation, the Selfie Stick evolved over a century to meet our desire to capture and share moments. Today, it’s more than just a gadget—it’s a cultural symbol of self-expression and connection.