Death by Selfies

Be aware before taking a selfie. Photo Credit / Amy Lukac and Bill Cameron Be aware before taking a selfie. Photo Credit / Amy Lukac and Bill Cameron
Be aware before taking a selfie. Photo Credit / Amy Lukac and Bill Cameron
Be aware before taking a selfie.
Photo Credit / Amy Lukac and Bill Cameron

By Alexa Stephens
Contributing Writer

In a world where technology and social media is at the tip of everyone’s fingertips, sometimes it is hard to refrain from posting every moment that occurs throughout the day.

It is an overwhelming addiction that disguises itself as something less threatening and something that is very harmless. Besides the numerous deaths that happen from people texting while driving, there are hardly any reports of serious consequences from using our phones on an hourly basis.

However, popping up around the world more frequently is the newest threat: death by selfie. From time to time it can be heard on the news or read in a shocking online article.

A selfie-holic will do something stupid in order to capture the perfect picture, which leads to an unexpected death.

CNN reports that since 2014, 49 people have been reported dead as a result of an accident occurring, involving a selfie.

“The most dangerous places to take a self-portrait seem to be in high places or in water:” CNN says, “16 people died from falling off a cliff or a tall building, while 14 drowned. Posing next to an oncoming train is responsible for deaths…. The other reasons are violent: gunshot, grenade, plane crash, car crash, and animal.”

The selfie itself is not to blame, however. The obsession with social media is.

Not a single death had been caused directly from the selfie. No freak accident with a selfie stick has been reported.

These selfie deaths are caused by the extreme carelessness of the person taking the picture.

In hopes of looking cool or getting many likes on Instagram, people all over the world are risking their lives for the perfect shot.

But are these selfies really worth it? The only benefit from them is impressing strangers on the internet, and that is costing people their lives.

“Social media is almost like a game,” Adrienne Erin writes on Socialnomics. “We are all at war with one another for likes and favorites and we compete…”

Although all social media is not bad, the competition aspect of it is.

If people just stopped posting and fighting for likes it would make the online environment much happier and less stressful.

One hundred likes on a photo is not worth someone’s life – no matter how awesome the shot.

So, next time you are standing on the edge of cliff, put down your phone and resist the urge to take a selfie.

This time, just enjoy the view.

Email Alexa at:
astephens@live.esu.edu