"Rat Selfie Experiment Sparks Debate on Social Media Behavior"

French artist Augustin Lignier trained rats to take selfies in a modified Skinner box, drawing parallels between their behavior and human engagement with social media. Initially motivated by treats, the rats eventually took selfies purely for pleasure, reflecting how people interact with online platforms. The installation, Selfie Rats, highlights the connection between intermittent rewards on social media and the release of dopamine in the brain, without necessarily condemning internet culture. The rats, seen as collaborators, produced numerous selfies but did not seem to derive fulfillment from the images themselves. After their modeling stint, they were sent to live out their days in comfort and are now buried in Lignier's mother's garden.