Between October 2011 and November 2017, at least 259 people around the world died taking selfies, according to the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care in India, compared to just 50 people killed by sharks in the same period.
And the death toll is increasing incrementally each year as smartphones become more sophisticated and Selfie-sticks increase the range at which people can snap themselves, prompting them to take bigger risks for the perfect shot.
In October 2018, an Indian couple fell to their deaths trying to take a Selfie a Taft Overlook at Yosemite National Park (U.S). The couple’s Instagram account often showed them in dangerous situations.
While woman take the most selfies, young men, who are more prone to taking risks, make up three quarters of “selfecides”. Most deaths are caused by drowning, being hit by vehicles, falling, posing with loaded weapons or wild animals or while driving.
India, with a population of more than 1.3 billion and 800 million cell phones, had the highest number of deaths (159 so far) partly because the country has a high number of people younger than 30, and because selfies in India are especially trendy.
The study concluded that ‘no Selfie zones’ should be declared across tourist areas, especially water bodies, mountain peaks and tall buildings to decrease the incidence of Selfie-related deaths.
Picture Credit : Google