You should avoid taking selfies that put your life at risk to get a few more likes or followers. Let’s have a look at the type of selfies that aren’t worth it.
1. Tall Sites
A common risky selfie involves people climbing on top of a building or cliff only for the sake of taking a photo. Often, people are fascinated by some of these selfies that go viral on social media, but it’s very risky.
Many cases have been reported of people slipping, and even succumbing to their injuries, while taking a selfie on a tall or demolished building. A story reported by News18 about a 13-year-old boy who died while taking a selfie on the top of a demolished building serves as an example of one such instance.
Avoid putting your life in danger by wandering off treacherous cliffs, roofs, and tall buildings. Rather get a selfie stick to get a better view without risking your life by standing on the edge. And there are other types of selfies that will provide that wow factor, such as golden hour selfies, and are not risky at all.
2. Driving
We often like to add a new status or check in on social media while traveling. It’s an excellent way to let your network know about your plans, but you shouldn’t do it while your hands are on the steering wheel.
By doing so, you will put your own life at risk and the lives of others as well. Additionally, you may have to pay a fine if caught, depending on where you live.
As reported by BurtonCopeland, several fatal accidents have been reported in which people lost their lives while recording themselves while driving.
3. Dangerous Animals
Another trend that has gained popularity in recent years is to take selfies with animals that could pose a threat to your life. People often do this as a sign of bravery, but it could endanger their lives.
Whenever you visit a zoo or a safari park, you should maintain the distance specified by the authorities and never get out of your car if wild animals are roaming around. That cute cat you’re a fan of might pounce, and you could become the victim of a jaguar attack.
A few cases have been reported where the urge to take a selfie next to a dangerous animal has harmed the individual. One such instance is reported by NPR in which a jaguar attacked a woman in an Arizona zoo. These selfies aren’t worth the risk.
4. Natural Disasters and Extreme Weather
A tornado reaches your front door, an earthquake hits, or a heavy storm blows through; these are not the moments to take selfies.
It’s common for people to take selfies during natural disasters and post them on social media. Considering the risks associated with taking such selfies, it isn’t worth it. As reported by the BBC, an incident like this occurred in India, where dozens of people died due to a lightning strike while taking selfies on a tall tower.
The safety of yourself and your loved ones is more important than getting a cool, risky shot in extreme conditions.
5. Construction Sites
Construction sites are places where everyone weighs the risk before taking the next step. It’s a no-brainer not to enter these places without essential protective gear.
Considering the risks associated with construction sites, it’s not a place for selfies. In addition to risking your life, you could also get slapped with a hefty fine if you do so on a forbidden construction site.
6. Crime Scenes and Criminals
You should think twice before using your phone to capture a crime scene or a criminal in action. Whether there’s a robbery happening on the street behind your home or a murder taking place nearby, you should never take a selfie. This is because the criminals might notice and threaten or hurt you.
It’s also just downright unethical to make light of a tragic incident where victims are likely involved.
7. Funerals
Taking selfies is one of the things you should never do at a funeral. If you are not asked to do so, or if it’s not part of a tradition, you should avoid taking pictures at funerals altogether.
If you do, you could ruin the sentiments and hurt the feelings of the deceased’s family and friends, which will affect your relationship with them. If you want to do it to keep the selfie as a memory of the deceased, ask for permission first.
8. Playing a Risky Sport
The trend of playing risky sports has emerged over the past few years. Bungee jumping, paragliding, scuba diving, and mountain climbing are a few examples of risky sports that require your full attention.
While playing such a sport, taking selfies could put your sporting equipment at risk, and your chances of getting injured will be higher. Rather than satisfying your desire to show the world the exciting sports you play, try to concentrate on enjoying the sport instead. And someone else could take pictures of you if you really want to capture that moment.
9. Unauthorized Places and People
Last but not least, you should make sure that the place where you are taking selfies allows the public to do so. Bestlife has listed some of the places where taking selfies is illegal. Keep this in mind, or you’ll have to pay a huge fine.
You should also ensure you’re allowed to take a selfie with the people you’re trying to take one with. These may be police officers or government employees who aren’t allowed to take selfies at work, depending on where you live. This could affect their careers.
Finally, we recommend checking out our article on how to edit your selfies. There’s no need to put your life at risk for a captivating selfie.
Don’t Take Selfies That Aren’t Worth the Risk
Avoid taking any of the selfies mentioned on this list. If you must take them, be sure to take all precautions and put your life first. Even the slightest negligence could cost you your life or ruin your relationships with others.
If you find it difficult to take high-quality selfies with your phone camera, check out apps like AirBrush or Camera360. Using these apps to capture cherished moments will enhance the quality of your snaps.