[su_heading size=”18″ margin=”40″]Two more fatal incidents add to the growing number of deaths attributed to taking dangerous selfies.[/su_heading]
Last week, a German tourist met a horrific death while attempting to take a “flying” selfie at the Machu Picchu ruins in Peru. The unfortunate man lost his balance while jumping while posing for a selfie and fell into a 100-meter canyon.
Just one day before, another tourist lost his life in Peru, attempting to take a selfie at the top of the Gocta waterfall.
Selfies may not be officially a cause of death, but these new incidents add to a growing number of deaths that have been attributed to taking dangerous photos.
The photo above captures a Russian teenager who died last year while trying to take a self-portrait in a dangerous spot.
According to research by Priceonomics, the most common cause of selfie- related deaths is falls, followed by drowning. The average age of victims is 21, with 75 percent of reported cases involving men. The company says men are more likely to take risks and take a risky photo, even though women generally take more selfies.
The issue affects the global population: in January 2016, the Washington Post reported that India had the highest number of selfie-related deaths in the world, prompting the country to add no-selfie zones at tourist attractions.
Meanwhile, the Russian government last year released a public guide to safe selfie practices, while Norway's tourism ministry has its own website with guidelines for selfie enthusiasts.
Several more people have lost their lives attempting to take dangerous photos: On New Year's Eve this year, a student tragically died while trying to take a selfie on the facade of the Four Seasons Hotel in New York.
With technology and the internet now an integral part of our daily lives, it is clear that our addiction to it affects our mental health in many ways. But let's not let selfies become yet another "technological" burden with significant impacts on our lives.
