Selfie shot in the dark

We’ve all heard about this Chainsmokers Selfie song, and crooned along a million times —  But first, let me take a selfie! While the selfie fever has been rampant for a while now, the addiction seems to have taken an ugly turn and we explore this. Death by selfie is on the rise and India has topped the list of selfie deaths in the world. So how does something so innane and fun turn dangerous?

After a spate of crazy fatal selfie deaths (a 21-year-old lost his life, courtesy his selfie craze at Chikkamagaluru on a waterfall, a 19-year-old engineering student drowned in a stream in Ramanagar, four medical students lost their lives while clicking selfies in a water canal, 16-year-old boy was run over by a suburban train while taking the perfect shot, selfie enthusiasts went on a rampant in flooded areas in Chennai, a girl drowned in Mumbai while perched on a rock and many more), Mumbai is creating no selfie zones. How safe should one be while selfieing? We find out.

Filmmaker and creator, The Improv, Saad Khan explains, “I’ve seen so many pictures and videos on social media about people losing their lives trying to get that cool or death defying selfie. There is a huge difference between being adventurous and being careless. If you’re a daredevil and want a selfie that goes down in history, then use a harness or a rig so that you can be safe and live to cherish it.” Party animal Viren Khanna, who loves to click selfies adds, “Everyone on social networking sites is looking out for others appreciation of what they post.

This trend seems to be led by those people whose drive to seek approval surpasses their survival instincts. While there’s no harm in clicking selfies, one must not take extreme steps and play it safe.”  

There’s also an organisation (selfietodiefor.org) that helps tackles these narcissistic personalities. Dr Shyam Bhat, psychiatrist and founder of seraniti.com states, “Many people today have become like Narcissus who died because he was so entranced by his own image.

Taking selfies and velfies has become more popular than experiencing the moment itself. People take risks to get a reaction on social media and as the audience becomes jaded, the selfie-taker may increase risk taking, to get the validation they so desperately seek. As virtual life becomes more important than real life, and as people derive more social status and meaning from social media, this trend for dangerous selfies will only grow.

Those who have died while taking a selfie, should serve as reminders and teach us to pursue real meaningful relationships, instead of relying on social media appreciation. When people live meaningful lives the need for validation decreases, decreasing the tendency to take fatal selfies.”   

Someone who is bitten by the selfie bug herself is Shalini Chopra of Stylish by Nature. “Although I love clicking selfies, I see a new battleground in the war on selfies. For me, selfies are meant to lighten someone’s mood or draw a smile on the onlooker and nothing else. While a compliment on social media might bring a feel good factor, going overboard for a selfie is a complete no-no.”