More than 250 people have died while taking selfies

The next time you think about taking a selfie at the edge of a cliff or a waterfall, be very careful because it might be the last thing you do in your life. According to research by the Indian Medical Association, the results of which were published in the last issue of the Family Medicine Journal two months ago, at least 259 people worldwide lost their lives while taking selfies between October 2011 and 2017. CNN reports that the results show that most of these incidents occurred in India, Russia, the United States, and Pakistan. Over 70% of the victims were men under the age of 30. More than half of these incidents, 189 deaths due to selfies, occurred in India. Researchers attribute this to the large population of individuals under 30, which is the highest in the world. Although women generally have a greater interest in taking selfies than men, researchers concluded that men take greater risks to capture an attractive photo, which is why the number of male deaths while taking selfies is significantly higher. The primary cause of death in these cases is drowning, followed by transportation accidents, such as taking selfies in front of moving trains. The third cause of death is due to fires or falls from heights, and eight people have died while taking selfies with dangerous animals. In the U.S., deaths from selfies involving firearms are more common than in any other country, with individuals accidentally shooting themselves while taking selfies. This research emphasizes that not all selfie-related deaths are reported and recorded, so the actual number of victims may be higher. For example, a driver who dies in an accident while taking a selfie is recorded as a traffic accident victim. In many developing countries, local media do not cover deaths from taking selfies. Deaths from selfies are on the rise. In 2011, only three cases were reported, but by 2016, this number had increased to 98. The Washington Post also quotes Agam Bansal, the head of this research, stating, 'Death from selfies has become a major public health issue. Taking selfies with friends and celebrities in ordinary environments is not harmful. However, combining it with risky behaviors makes taking selfies dangerous.' He emphasizes that one of the main concerns is the high number of young deaths, as over 85% of the victims are aged between 10 and 30. A part of this research states, 'Most victims are young people and tourists who want to attract attention by taking attractive photos and sharing them on social media. Selfies are not inherently dangerous, but human behavior makes them dangerous. People need to be educated about dangerous locations that are not suitable for taking selfies.' This research also recommends that taking selfies be banned in tourist spots such as mountain peaks, sea beaches, large rivers, and tall buildings.