True Story: Selfies Killed More People Than Sharks This Year

Think before you snap your next Instagram

By Lindsey Caldwell Sep 22, 2015 1:25 AMTags
Jeep Wrangler GoPro fail, Selfie StickYouTube

Think before you selfie, you guys, because sometimes getting the right angle on those pictures can have serious (even fatal!) consequences…

According to a new study, there have now been more deaths this year from selfies than there have been from shark attacks. Ahem, we repeat, sharks! The death toll for selfie-related deaths now totals 12 people, whereas deaths related to shark attacks totals 8 people.

The most recent selfie related death occurred in India where, according to BBC, a 66-year-old tourist named Hideto Ueda died after attempting to take a, you guessed it, photo of himself for his friends and family to see.

Donte Neal/Mashable

Per an eyewitness' account, Ueda and a friend fell to their untimely deaths while attempting to take a picture at the Taj Mahal's Royal Gate. Ueda lost consciousness and was taken to the hospital where he later passed away.

So now's as good a time as any to offer this friendly reminder: don't do it for the 'gram if the risk outweighs the joyous feeling of seeing those likes go up and up. OK?

The seriousness surrounding the selfie is so big that even major event producers are catching on.

In fact, many large public places and festivals have been banning selfie sticks for the danger they may cause in such populated areas. Disney theme parks recently banned the contraptions citing "safety concerns."

Speaking of selfies, they can be harmless when snapped in normal circumstances. How cute is this one of Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez?