The selfie trend has already made lots of victims and Russian authorities now have a campaign promoting safer selfies.
Far too often, the world starts buzzing about some new tragic accident involving selfie lovers. High-risk selfies are apparently a thing, and people try to take pictures of themselves in dangerous environments without realizing it could have fatal consequences.
Too many have already died while trying to take a selfie, whether by falling down a steep rock, getting electrocuted on top of a train or in some other tragic scenario, and Russian authorities find it paramount to raise awareness and set some safety rules to prevent such accidents.
Hundreds of injuries and dozens of deaths occurred this year alone as a result of dangerous selfies, and a new campaign from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs promotes safe selfies.
"A cool selfie could cost you your life," the campaign warns (translated).
The campaign aims to draw attention on the risks selfie lovers often take, without even realizing that they could be taking their last photo. The warning follows a series of selfie-related accidents that occurred recently. Back in May, for instance, a young woman in Moscow shot herself in the head by accident while trying to take a selfie holding a gun. The woman survived, but not without injuries. More recently, another woman fell off a bridge in Moscow, also while trying to take a selfie.
The number of selfie-related cases resulting in injuries or deaths has become truly alarming and the selfie trend shows no signs of dying down. On the contrary, the number of such selfie-related accidents continues to increase constantly, and the new campaign encourages people to make sure they are in a safe environment first.
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs launched this new campaign to warn people about the dangers of high-risk selfies, offering leaflets, advice, and some safety rules people should take into account. To illustrate the dangers and recommendations, the campaign features warning signs that look similar to road signs (see image above).
Russian authorities have also posted a public safety video, showing high-risk situations in which "roofers" risk their lives trying to capture spectacular photos. Roofers often sneak into tall buildings and take selfies from the top, later boasting about it on social media.
No selfie is not worth your life, however, and people need to stop putting their lives in danger for the sake of a photo. The new instructions warn selfie lovers against posing with a gun, a wild animal, climbing onto high roofs or on top of trains, standing on railroad tracks or other such dangerous actions.
