Without a doubt, the phenomenon of selfie-related deaths reach an all-time new low with the news following the recent death of a baby dolphin.
What’s even more startling was learning that selfie-related deaths are on the rise at exponential levels – reaching a point that there’s now an entire In Wikipedia page dedicated to some of the reported cases. In 2015, more people allegedly died taking selfies than by shark attacks.
Much like injuries and deaths by “texting and walking”, I think selfie taking is another form of mindless distraction, and it’s no surprise that many tourist attractions are jumping on the bandwagon by banning the use of selfie-sticks.
We’re all guilty of selfies, especially when we live in a world of “pics or it didn’t happen”. Living in a digital world driven by gratification by the number of “likes” and “comments” received on content, people are indirectly trying to “one-up” each other by attempting to take the most daredevil, “gangsta” photo out there. I especially see this trend in travel photos.
Some of the reported selfie deaths include:
- In the United States, the pilot of a Cessna 150K and his passenger were killed when the pilot was distracted taking selfies and lost control of the plane.
- A 23-year-old student from Poland fell to her death while trying to take a selfie on the ledge of the Puente de Triana in Seville, Spain.
- Three Indian students aged 20 to 22 died trying to take a “daredevil selfie” close to an oncoming train.
- An 18-year-old Romanian teenager died when she attempted to take the “ultimate selfie”, posing with a friend atop a train in the north-eastern Romanian city of Iasi.
I personally think selfie-related deaths are unfortunate. What’s even more unfortunate is how addicted to phones we are as a human race, especially younger generations.
I still think selfie sticks are ruining the way we travel in general. Put the phone down and appreciate the moment.
What are your thoughts? Have you ever taken a “daredevil” selfie to generate likes?
What’s wrong with people??
This box isn’t big enough to fully answer that. :)
Selfie sticks get alot of bad publicity, but they can save your life, if you get caught in a Sharknado!
I found myself wondering about this on my recent trip to the Grand Canyon. It was hard to enjoy the experience when I was so distracted by all the people taking selfish just inches from the edge of the canyon. It was quite stressful for me and so I offered a few times to take the pictures for them. At least then they wouldn’t be leaning back ( a foot from a thousand foot drop) as the picture is being taken. It was crazy and very scary.
I don’t really care for selfies either but I get it. You’re on a trip or somewhere and want a pic to remember the moment but either no one is around or you don’t want someone to run off with your camera. As long as you’re not doing something completely stupid and distracting I think it’s similar to a camera with a timer.