Let’s admit, at least once in a lifetime everyone of us has taken a selfie, be it in a washroom , bedroom or museum. Dominant social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are full of all sorts and kinds of selfies and what was unacceptable to society 10 years ago, now seems normal or at least adaptable. One of the first teenagers who took a selfie in the mirror back in 1914 was the Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna; 100 years later, a teenage girl from the same country was found dead after climbing atop a railway bridge in Saint-Petersburg to strike a pose for a selfie…
According to Russian agency Taas, selfie-taking this year has seen a record-breaking 10 deaths and more than 100 accidents. This is why, concerned about the increasing number of incidents, the Russian Ministry of Interior has released a“selfie safety guide”.
These brochures contains what resembles road signs with examples based on real incidents in Russia. One of them happened in May this year, when a girl asked a security guard to give her a rubber-bullet pistol to take a selfie and accidentally shot herself in the head. The brochure warns about danger of taking selfies on the rooftops, in front or on top of the train, and with animals. “Selfie safety guides” will be given away to students and the general public.
Sadly, the next generation is willing to risk life and limb in order to catch a cool shot or video for more “likes” on Facebook and YouTube. Is the desire to be accepted and loved by friends and strangers taking over the normal understanding of safety and life itself? This trend of extreme selfies is all over the internet, we look, laugh at their stupidity and forget after few moments. At least Russia, is the first country trying to prevent this world’s selfie crisis.
