Selfies Are More Dangerous Than You Think

You may love the new "selfie culture" or you may hate it, but there is no denying that the trend of taking photos of oneself is everywhere. Even the Pope has been known to agree to take a selfie with a group of young people visiting the Vatican. Taking a selfie has become an integrated part of taking trips, getting together with friends or passing by particular monuments or landmarks.

Yet, would it surprise you to hear that in 2016, there were more deaths related to selfies than there were deaths caused by shark attacks (analysis by Mashable)? Twelve people were reported to have died because of taking a selfie, including people who fell onto train tracks while trying to take a photo, and a man who fell to his death at the Taj Mahal while trying to capture the visit on film.

Of course, it's not the photo itself that is dangerous, but rather the risks that people take in attempting to get these treasured photos, and their lack of attention to their surroundings. Have you ever, for example, seen the selfies people take while they are driving a car? 

As a parent or caregiver, we have the opportunity to emphasize that posting a photo of oneself on social media is never more important than one's safety. Deaths, as well as numerous injuries can occur when our eyes are fixed on our Smart phone camera app, rather than on the stairs we are navigating, the mountain we are climbing, or the street curb where we're standing. 
 

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