Selfie Sticks Surpass Shark Attack Fatalities

Thought a single fin slicing through the water accompanied by John Williams’ famous ‘Jaws Theme Song’ is the single most terrifying thought on the planet? Think again! According to the latest research from Mashable, selfie sticks are far more fatal than toothy marine predators.

Yes, it’s true! According to researchers, the number of selfie-related deaths this year currently sits at 12. In comparison, sharks have been responsible for just eight deaths. Sure, selfie sticks may be great when it comes to snapping Instagram worthy photographs however more and more social media obsessed individuals are putting their lives on the line in exchange for likes, shares and pins.

From snap happy to snap dead

As well as fatal trips and falls that can be put down to sheer carelessness or lack of luck, selfie sticks have caused some alarmingly grim deaths. At a Spanish bull run one man was mangled while attempting to capture a selfie while a pair of Russian men were blown to pieces while photographing themselves with a live grenade. No doubt the selfie stick was shattered to smithereens. One woman even managed to shoot herself in the foot while posing with a loaded gun while another suffered a heart attack while attempting to take a picture outside the Taj Mahal. Other causes include falling off cliffs, crashing cars and being hit by trains. All for the sake of a selfie.

Interestingly, 2014 research from the Ohio State University found that men who post a lot of selfies exhibited signs of psychopathy, as well as unusually high levels of narcissism. This suggests that they’re more inclined to put personal gain (i.e capturing a killer selfie pic) above potential danger in situations.

"It's all about me. It's putting me in the frame. I'm getting attention and when I post that to social media, I'm getting the confirmation that I need from other people that I'm awesome," explains lead researcher Jesse Fox.

Calculating the risk

Of course, the statistics are relative and we’re definitely not saying selfie sticks are more dangerous than sharks. Everyday people die from a myriad of causes, none of which are necessarily more or less dangerous than another.  

While some cameras may be deadly, others play a key role in helping scientists uncover climatic mysteries. ‘Thermal Imaging Cameras Help Researchers Study Ice Nucleation and Ice Propagation in Plants’ looks at how sophisticated thermal imaging cameras are being used to monitor the freezing process of plants in a bid to protect them from extreme temperatures.