As an increasing number of people die due to selfie-related accidents, researchers are calling for "no-selfie zones" at tourist locations across the globe to prevent people from partaking in risky behavior for the sake of a perfect photo.
According to a new study in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, at least 259 people died from October 2011 to November 2017 while snapping selfies, with the highest number occurring amongst 20 to 29-year-olds (with 72 percent being male). But that number is "just the tip of the iceberg," say the study’s authors, because such deaths are underreported and often attributed to other causes. The study also found that selfie deaths are becoming more common, increasing from just three in 2011 to 93 in 2017. Researchers attribute the jump in selfie fatalities to increased cell phone usage, enhanced selfie features, and more widespread use of selfie sticks.
Of the 259 selfie-related deaths the researchers identified, more than half (a total of 159) occurred in India, followed by Russia (16), the United States (14) and Pakistan (11). The most common type of death was drowning (70 deaths), which often occurred after the selfie-taker was washed away by waves on a beach or capsized a boat. Next were "transport" deaths (51), which most frequently happened when someone was taking a selfie too close to a moving train. Those were followed by deaths from falls (48), fires (48), firearms (11), animals (8), and "other" (7). Most of the firearm-related selfie deaths occurred in the United States -- most often people posing with a gun to their head and accidentally shooting themselves. The study also found that the people who died while taking selfies were overwhelmingly male (about 72 percent) and under the age of 30 (86 percent).
As a result, "No Selfie Zones" are being declared at some tourist areas globally, especially such places as bodies of water; canyon rims; mountain peaks; and, on tall buildings -- all in an effort to decrease the incidence of selfie-related deaths.
Some experts are suggesting that smartphone technology that uses global positioning system location, or measures altitude, could potentially be harnessed to try and help prevent selfie deaths. In a letter published in the journal Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, doctors from the National University of Ireland Galway, explain how cell phones could potentially be used to transmit verbal safety warnings to users who are about to take photographs in dangerous locations. The letter states:
"Based on the GPS location or altitude of the tourist, we propose that there may be scope for providing verbal safety messages to individuals with their phone in camera mode, warning them that they are too close to a vertical drop. In such cases, the camera function may be disabled until the person moves away from the dangerous no selfie zone."Yes, locations around the world could post "No Selfie Zone" signs to try and encourage people to avoid dangerous situations with their smartphones, but is that really going to have an impact? I do believe there is some merit to the idea of having a phone's camera function disabled based on GPS location or altitude. Sadly, even with such disabling I don't believe that deaths from foolish 'selfie' taking will ever be completely eliminated.
From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),
Paul J. Staso
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Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek
Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:
- United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
- Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
- Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
- Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
- The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
- Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
- Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
- Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
- Some Cycling Moments From The Past
