Countries are getting serious about selfie safety after teen accidentally kills himself with a gun
Apparently, selfie safety is about to become a thing. A 15-year-old teen in India accidentally killed himself with a handgun while posing with the gun in order to take a selfie. The gun — which was a .32 caliber pistol — belonged to his father, and the safety wasn’t on at the time. It’s not yet known how he got his hands on the gun.
While that story is extremely sad, it’s highlighting an apparent need to teach folks a new lesson about public safety. Taking selfies are cool and all, but it’s not worth putting yourself and others in danger just to look cool on Facebook.
India was responsible for 19 of the 49 selfie-related deaths that have occurred over the past 3 years, but it’s happening at a wide variety of places. Mumbai had to enforce “no-selfie zones,” and Russia has had to start putting out signs and brochures which warn against taking selfies in dangerous places such as on railroad tracks, on a boat in water, or on top of the roof of your house.
It highlights the increasing importance youngsters place on social media in today’s age. Many people will go to great lengths to get retweets, likes, and shares, and as the saying goes it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Long story short: losing your life is not worth increasing a meaningless number on your Facebook page, so think twice about your great selfie idea before you go and do it!
[via CNN]