Researchers say selfie-related deaths are a growing “public health problem.”

Selfie-related deaths are a new public health problem, according to researchers at the University of New South Wales in Australia.

In accordance with MedPage todayresearchers came to this conclusion after analyzing “published literature and news reports of selfie-related deaths and injuries since 2011.”

And seconds ABC News (Australia)the researchers specifically “found that tourists were most at risk, and that the most common cause of death was falling off cliffs or waterfalls while trying to take a selfie.”

The researchers also “found that before their deaths, people often scaled barriers and closed off areas to get to the perfect selfie spot.”

A boy died while taking a selfie after falling into a raging waterfall at Bhima Kunda, a scenic spot in eastern Odisha. #India pic.twitter.com/WYryMCu7XA

— CGTN (@CGTNOofficial) December 31, 2018

Based on these findings, lead researcher Sam Cornell is convinced that this problem should be designated a public health problem/crisis.

“It is a problem that is not going anywhere. People are online more and more, kids are growing up with social media and smartphones from a very early age,” he told ABC News.

“In the age of social media, people want to go to beautiful places to photograph well because it looks great on their social media profiles, whether it’s on TikTok or Instagram,” he added.

You’re not the only one who feels this way.

“Selfie-related mortality is a public health issue as these deaths affect people of all ages worldwide, have been increasing and could be prevented through better education and public awareness,” said Nathalie Auger, medical epidemiologist who has carried out similar research. MedPage today.

He added that his own research has shown that young people are particularly prone to taking dangerous selfies and may not be aware of the risks they are taking.

Model Jeff Thomas may have died after falling while taking a selfie, says agent https://t.co/qRFh2k0UMd pic.twitter.com/PtIxtVnA5f

— Page Six (@PageSix) March 18, 2023

According to MedPage, examples that demonstrate this last for days.

“Last month, The Times of India reported that a 23-year-old woman died after falling 350 feet while taking a selfie at Needle Hole Point near Mahabaleshwar, India,” the site notes.

“In September, a 22-year-old tourist in Australia fell 164 feet off a cliff Opens in a New Tab or Window while taking a selfie with friends at the Pinnacles Lookout at Cape Woolamai on Philip Island in Victoria, and suffered significant injuries.Earlier this year, a 27-year-old man taking a selfie with elephants in India was trampled to death, according to Newsweek.

That said, Auger suspects that self-related deaths and injuries are being underestimated and that this may prevent people from being more aware of the risks.

But why do people take these risks anyway?

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 tied to users’ self-esteem .In trying to achieve this validation, people “are forced to go to extremes,” according to MedPage.

“What is often lost in the discussion is why people will go to such extremes for that ultimate selfie,” he explained in his own words. “Social media encourages self-promotion and narcissistic tendencies, and the excessive use of selfies can be seen as a manifestation of this.”

UP man falls to his death while taking selfie on bridge: police https://t.co/DJoxGiLCSj pic.twitter.com/o4s720IKUt

— NDTV News feed (@ndtvfeed) November 17, 2023

What exactly do the researchers propose to do to solve this problem? Changing the way news networks cover selfie deaths, among other things.

“The researchers recommended that future news coverage emphasize prevention rather than victim blaming, and that social media users should be exposed to stronger safety messages,” notes MedPage.

“Additionally, previous research had recommended ‘selfie-free zones,’ as well as physical barriers, signage and information on social media apps, to help curb selfie-related deaths,” according to the site.

Aboujaoude appears to support these security measures, but has doubts about their effectiveness.

“What we really need is much more awareness of the toxic effects of social media on personality and behavior. That’s where the real public health risk lies,” he said.

A teenager falls 16 feet to his death while trying to take a selfie at the edge of a waterfall https://t.co/yN5BD3Z6uK pic.twitter.com/L9eb3C3k4U

— Mirror World News (@MirrorWorldNews) April 26, 2023

Cornell seems to agree at least somewhat.

talking with Fox Newshe said that taking dangerous selfies not only poses a physical risk, but also introduces the “unhealthy psychological aspects of taking a break from living life to make a freeze frame.”

“This also carries an emotional cost and is an unhealthy extension of our celebrity culture and social media pressures,” she explained.

Senior Staff Writer
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V. Saxena is a writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.

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