Indian scholars released a study on reported deaths attributed to selfies titled “Selfies: A boon or bane?” (July 2018). They found ninety-eight people reportedly lost their lives in attempts to snap selfies in 2016 and ninety-three did so in 2017, rising from two reported deaths in 2011. The study states, “Selfies are never reported as an official cause of death. It is believed that selfie deaths are underreported….. Thus, the true magnitude of problem is underestimated. It is therefore important to assess the true burden, causes, and reasons for selfie deaths so that appropriate interventions can be made.”
What is a selfie, anyway?
The report explains, “Selfie is a recent phenomenon and was named as the word of the year 2013 by Oxford Dictionary. It is described as a photograph that a person takes of himself (or group) typically using a smartphone likely for the purpose of sharing in social media….. There are sites sharing information on “how to have a perfect selfie” and “different poses for selfie. Introduction of “selfie sticks” and “selfie shoe” have enhanced obsession among people for selfies. These days the choice of smart phones is based on their selfie picture quality….. Clicking selfies and sharing them on social media has become a mode of self-expression. People sometimes portray themselves amidst dangerous settings so as to gain attention on social media sites. ”
Why are people literally dying to take selfies?
The report describes the motivation for risky selfies, stating “it is rewarding for individuals seeing the number of likes and positive comments and this further influences them to post unique pictures which may also involve indulging in risky behavior…… Usually the youth and tourists are frequently affected because of the desire of ‘being cool,’ posting photos on social media, and getting rewards in forms of likes and comments.”
Perhaps the impetus for risky selfies can be summed up in one word: significance. People want to be significant. For years, people have used physical, shiny objects such as jewelry, clothes, cars, and houses to attract attention. With the advent of smartphones and social media, people have turned photographs into virtual shiny objects for the whole world to see–literally the whole world. Can a spotlight get any better than that?
And now, people are literally dying for attention-grabbing selfies. The Indian study cites selfie-induced deaths related to drowning, transportation, falling, fire, electrocution, firearms (mostly in the United States–big surprise), and animals, among others causes. Each selfie death is a tragedy, a life that is intrinsically significant cut short.
Stop dying for selfies, and start dying to self.
We need to stop dying for selfies, and start dying to self. There’s nothing wrong with taking photographs and preserving memories; however, when we become a culture obsessed with turning the lenses on ourselves to the point of putting ourselves in danger simply to get attention to feel significant, we have drifted 180 degrees away from that which truly makes us significant: dying to self. Nobody has to become Jesus; nobody will. However, we would do well to focus a little less on ourselves and a little more on others. In helping others, our craving for significance will dissipate, and yet, our actual significance will shine.
Where along this spectrum do you find significance?
<<<Significance>>>
ME<<<————————————————————–>>>OTHERS
Dying for a selfie would be far on the left. The extreme of dying to self on the right would be literally dying, such as a firefighter succumbing to the flames while saving the lives of others. Which extreme is more significant? Where along this spectrum do you want to be?
P. Gustav Mueller, author of The Present
Relevant Links
Selfies: a boon or bane? by Agam Bansal, Chandan Garg, Abhijith Pakhare, and Samiksha Gupta
More than 250 have people died while trying to take selfies, study finds, USA Today
Dying to Self