In some tragic cases, taking a selfie for social media can be fatal. A study by Australian researchers, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Researchboldly asserts that these selfie-related deaths – particularly falls from dizzying heights and drownings – constitute a public health problem.
Nathalie Auger, MD, MSc, medical epidemiologist at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Center in Canada, who has conducted separate studies research on this topicTotally agree.
“Selfie-related mortality is a public health concern because these deaths affect people of all ages worldwide, are increasing, and could be avoided with better education and public awareness,” Auger said. Page Med today.
She said her own research has shown young people are particularly at risk and may not understand the risk involved in taking a bold selfie.
A quick internet search brings up several examples. Last month, India Times reported that a 23-year-old woman died after falling 350 feet while take a selfie at Needle Hole Point near Mahabaleshwar, India. In September, a 22-year-old tourist in Australia fell 164 feet off a cliff while taking a selfie with friends at Pinnacles Lookout at Cape Woolamai on Philip Island in Victoria, sustaining serious injuries. Earlier this year, a 27-year-old man taking a selfie with elephants in India was trampled to death, according to News week.
Getting close to a scenic view can be dangerous in itself. Every year in national parks, people die on major hikes and viewpoints. Just a few months ago, a 61-year-old woman in North Carolina slipped and died at View of Glassmine Falls along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Auger believes these selfie-related deaths and serious injuries are likely underreported and that awareness and prevention have received little attention.
Elias Aboujaoude, MD, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford Medicine in California, said that in the age of social media, likes, comments and engagement are linked to people’s self-esteem. users. In trying to get this validation, people “are forced to go to extremes.”
Therefore, Aboujaoude said, the public health consequences of selfie-related deaths go beyond fatal falls and drownings.
“What is often lost in the discussion is why people go to such extremes to get that ultimate selfie,” Aboujaoude said. Page Med today. “Social media encourages self-promotion and narcissistic tendencies, and excessive use of selfies can be seen as a manifestation of this.”
For their study, researchers from the University of New South Wales in Australia analyzed published literature and news reports on selfie-related deaths and injuries from 2011. Falls are the leading cause of death, followed by by drowning. In the 5 studies reviewed, the average age was only 22 years old and the victims were more often women.
Media coverage tended to have three themes: blame, warning and education/prevention. The researchers recommended that future media coverage emphasize prevention rather than victim blaming, and that social media users be exposed to stronger safety messages.
Additionally, previous research had recommended “no-selfie zones,” along with physical barriers, signage, and information on social media apps, to help reduce selfie-related deaths.
Aboujaoude believes such security measures could help alleviate this problem – but only to a certain extent.
“What we really need is greater awareness of the toxic effects of social media on personality and behavior,” he said. “That’s where the real public health risk lies.”
