India Bans Selfies, After 19 Accidental Deaths

Selfies might be the fuel of our social media lives, but they’re also the cause of tragic deaths. Since 2014, 19 deaths in India were related to the “selfie fever”, the unstoppable need to take original selfies in dangerous places.

The growing situation has made Indian authorities map out no-selfie zones in the city of Mumbai, for starters. They include popular areas at a considerable height, where there are no barriers for protection. Coastal hotspots are risk-zones too, since they provide the perfect backdrop for a likable selfie. Another way to stop the accidental deaths is through an awareness campaign that Mumbai has already plans for.

For those who haven’t seen the numbers and the circumstances of selfie deaths, it might seem a drastic, unnecessary measure. So, take into account that in January, an 18-year-old lost his life on a class trip, attempting to take a selfie while perched on a rock, close to a dam. His death wasn’t the only one on that day, either. That selfie took the lives of two adolescents, as another colleague dove in to try and save him, but drowned instead.

Another student suffered fatal head wounds after falling from a rock, while trying to take a group selfie. Considering the booming smartphone market in India and the growing population, it’s no wonder the authorities are trying to prevent other tragedies. Russia is in the same position; since 2014, 7 young adults lost their lives while taking selfies.