Spain’s deadly selfies problem

IN the period between 2014 and 2018 fifty people died in Spain as a direct result of taking “selfies”, according to a global report by digital marketing agency eStudio 34. Across the planet just under a third of the deaths were after falls from scenic but dangerous places such as cliffs, rivers, rocks and waterfalls. 16% died by climbing onto train tracks or touching electric cables when clambering to get a better shot. 12% were the results of fatal accidents when people had posed with weaponry such as guns, knives or even grenades. There are also a large number of deaths thought to be caused by drivers taking pictures when in their vehicle, although this data cannot be precise. Spain’s selfie fatality rate is the fourth highest in the world, after the USA, India and Russia, all countries which have significantly larger populations.