Snapping selfies has led to 259 deaths between 2011 and 2017, a new study has found. Many of the deaths occurred on top of high buildings, mountains and nearby lakes, with India and Russia topping the list for selfie-related fatalities.
Researchers found that the most common cause of death-via-selfie is either drowning, falling or transport accidents. The most selfie deaths occurred in India (159 selfie deaths since 2011), Russia, the U.S and Pakistan. Specifically, most of the victims were people under the age of 30. Interestingly, men are more likely to risk their lives for a selfie, as the report shows 72 per cent of the victims are male.
The report comes after an increasing amount of selfie deaths reported in the press. Two years ago, 12-year-old Russian girl, known as Oksana B, fell to her death after taking a selfie on the 17th floor of an apartment building. Just last month, an 18-year-old hiker died after trying to take a selfie on a 200-foot cliff in Yosemite National Park.
The study’s researchers warn that their findings are only “the tip of the iceberg”. Selfie deaths are becoming increasingly more common. While only 3 selfie deaths were reported in 2011, that number has scarily risen to 98 in 2016. The report also explains that “many cases are not reported” because some deaths are not filed as “selfie-related”, leading to “deaths due to selfies” being merely reported as “road traffic accidents or others”.
The report’s authors urge that “no selfie zones” should be established in busy tourist areas, especially in “places such as water bodies, mountain peaks, and over tall buildings (in order) to decrease the incidence of selfie-related deaths”. India already has these “no selfie zones” in place, including 16 areas in Mumbai.
