It seems that our collective obsession with self-documentation has taken a sinister turn. Mashable observed that 12 people have died this year trying to get unbelievable, awe-inspiring selfies, most recently with a 66-year-old Japanese tourist falling to his death at the Taj Mahal. In 2015, more people have now died in selfie-related accidents than shark attacks, which is terrifying considering that there was a record number of shark sightings on the East Coast this year. Most of the selfie deaths were caused by falling, while some selfie adventurers got hit by trains.
Taking a quick selfie may seem like innocent fun, but dangerous snaps have become so popular that national parks and monuments have to warn against selfies and selfie-stick usage. The selfie is so popular worldwide that this year’s Tour de France cyclists had to dodge selfie takers. The Russian government even launched a ‘Safe Selfie’ campaign urging people to taking dangerous selfies.
A selfie may seem like a little innocent fun, but it’s important to realize the dangers with focusing only on your screen. The high number of deaths serve to remind us that a virtual life is not as important as a real one. So, next time you’re on the edge of a cliff, think twice before snapping away.
Credits
Text Hana Beach
Photography Ash Kingston