Are You 'Death Selfie' Addicted?

India has the highest rate of selfie deaths in the world! We can't help but wonder how many more lives selfie addiction will claim....

Abhishek Gupta, 20, fell to his death while taking a selfie from Reasi Fort, Jammu and Kashmir.

Tarannum Ansari, 20, drowned at Bandra Bandstand, Mumbai, whilst taking a selfie, on the rocks.

Sourabh Jagannath Chulbhar, 18, fell off the Waldevi Dam, Nashik, and drowned while taking a selfie.

Edwin, 15, Chiyyaram, Kerala, was killed after he slipped on the railway track rails, while attempting to take a selfie with an approaching train.

A selfie is a self-portrait photograph taken on one’s mobile phone camera. Though a seemingly harmless activity, it seems to be taking the lives of numerous people. And India tops the list of selfie deaths in the world, with over 14 reported cases in the last one year itself!

Dr. Ashit Sheth, psychiatrist, Unlimited Potentialities, Mumbai, gives us a psychological perspective into this growing as well as death-claiming craze of selfie addiction.

What is selfie addiction?

An addiction occurs when any activity carried out by an individual becomes obsessive and preoccupying. If the activity is stopped, the person becomes restless, impulsive and upset.

Selfie addicts are likely to keep clicking numerous pictures of themselves on a daily basis. They love admiring themselves. If they cannot take selfies, due to circumstances such as their phones getting robbed or spoilt, they tend to get extremely upset and impulsive.

Why the craze?

Firstly, it’s quick, easy and almost everyone likes looking at themselves, especially youngsters.