The startling reason why experts are calling for 'no selfie' zones
Tourists could soon be barred from taking selfies in popular destinations, as experts reveal the startling reason behind their call for ‘no selfie’ zones.
Experts found 259 selfie-related deaths, from people taking photos in risky locations such as on top of mountains and in front of rushing trains.
According to the ‘Selfies: A boon or bane?” study from the J Family Med Prim Care journal “no selfie zones” should be introduced across tourist areas especially places such as water bodies, mountain peaks, and over tall buildings to decrease the incidence of selfie-related deaths.”
“From October 2011 to November 2017, there have been 259 deaths while clicking selfies in 137 incidents,” the study said.
The study, led by researcher Agam Bansal, found that “drowning, transport, and fall” are the leading reasons for deaths caused by selfies. It estimated that about 1 million selfies are taken per day in 18- to 24-year-old demographic.
The most common drowning incidents included being “washed away by waves on beach, capsizing of boats while rowing, clicking selfies on shore while not knowing how to swim, or ignoring warnings.”
On transport, the leading cause of selfie-related deaths was snapping photos in front of a moving train.
The highest number of incidents and selfie-deaths were reported in India followed by Russia, United States, and Pakistan. The study also found that “most of the selfie-related deaths because of firearms occurred in the United States.”
The study found that 72.5 per cent of selfie deaths happened to men, due to riskier behaviour. The mean age of selfie-death victims was 22.94 years.
“No selfie zones” areas should be declared across many tourist areas specially places such as water bodies, mountain peaks, and over tall buildings to decrease the incidence of selfie-related deaths,” the study concluded.
